Developers defend Reepham solar farm plan
April 22, 2025
Developers defend solar farm plan
PA MediaDevelopers behind a controversial plan for a solar farm insisted it was “a very small part” of “a very large farming operation”.
Much of the opposition to the 200-acre (0.8-sq-km) development near Reepham, Norfolk, has been to it being built on “good quality” agricultural land.
But Albanwise Synergy – whose parent company owns almost 15,000 acres (61 sq km) of land in the county – said the firm was still focussed on food production.
A report for Broadland District Council’s planning committee has recommended members approve the Pettywell solar farm when they meet today.
More than 80 objections have been registered with the authority, with Reepham Town Council and Broadland and Fakenham’s Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew also voicing concerns about the farm.
Paul Moseley/BBCOne of the main campaigners has been Hugh Ivins, a former planning consultant who lives next to the site, which has been used to grow crops including spring barley, vining pees and sugar beet.
“In our view, it is more important to use that land for food production rather than energy,” he said.
A report from council officers said 87% of the proposed site was “grade 3a” – which the government describes as “good quality agricultural land”.
But they said the site was used to produce “commodity crops” which “the UK has had a net surplus of such crops in 9 of 10 years”.
Meanwhile, government advisers Natural England have not objected on the basis the solar farm should be removed after 40 years – and the land can be used for farming again.
Recommending it for approval, the council officers said the site would “provide a source of clean green renewable energy” for 14,000 homes.
Albanwise is one of the biggest private landowners in Norfolk and its project manager, Chris Banks, said the company was “diversifying”.
“It also tacks into those needs of putting in clean renewable energy to help support our system and decrease the reliance on foreign energy imports.”
“We are progressing the project alongside our much broader food production operations,” he added.
Asked if the firm had plans to convert other parts of its estate into solar farms, Mr Banks said it was “always being considered” but it was dependent on whether sites could be connected to the power network.
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