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The Planning Application for this massive Solar Power Plant was submitted just in before Christmas - under Reference 2024/3676. 

The local Planning Department will consider this application over the coming months and it will be taking account of Public Opinion. 

Any member of the public can give their opinion during the public consultation period 

You have until 2nd Feb to have your say! 

If you have an opinion please post/email it to the planning department or make an online comment.

This development is too big - with a footprint which is larger than Reepham - and it permanently industrialises a large swathe of our local countryside
The Solar Plant will be build on prime ( 'Best and most Versatile') farmland reducing our food security and it will never be fit for farming again - it will become 'brownfield'
There will be glint and glare from this huge array of panels which will be visible for miles around including 1.5 miles of Marriots Way
There will be a negative impact on local wildlife in terms of habitat loss and environmental changes
There will be a 2 acre, 40MW power storage system containing lithium-ion batteries in shipping containers. This technology can suffer from thermal runaway and if a fire starts it is impossible to extinguish. Toxic products from such a fire would spread far and wide 

This page includes quotes taken from the application along with considered responses based on the paperwork and research. The original response date was 18th Jan but this has been extended

 

You can find contact links below or write to;

Planning, The Horizon Centre, Broadland Business Park, Peachman Way, Norwich NR7 0WF

Using the reference 2024/3676

You can also submit your comments on-line at www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk. 

You will need to create a personal login, then go to the Planning page and search for 2024/3676 and you will be able to add your comment to the document list. BEWARE - the Broadland login and Planning Login are different and it is easy to mix up the passwords!

Comments are limited to 2500 characters

Or you can send your comment directly by email;

planning@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

Summing-up

If you have been thinking that Pettywell Solar represents an altruistic, cheap, green, safe, renewable energy project which will increase biodiversity on fields where sheep may safely graze and it can all be removed in 40 years to leave land which is improved for farming – think again.

The power generated will cost the consumer the current commercial rate. The carbon footprint of the proposed plant is significant and includes mining, manufacturing and transport. The battery storage is not inherently safe but prone to uncontrollable explosive fires with highly toxic plumes. The land will be unsuitable for skylarks and bats and only 3% of it will be sown as wild flower meadow – the rest will be grass. Sheep cannot graze the land as their output would contaminate water downhill – damaging wildlife reserves.The original prime farmland will be degenerated over time and decommissioning process will involve digging up tons of concrete and recycling 90,000 panels. In 40 years the site is far more likely to be ‘brownfield’ and ready for further development. At any time this investment asset could be sold on the open market – who would own our ‘power security’ then?

The planning application has now been lodged and we/the public have until 2nd February to make your comments