After the nearly two-hour meeting, committee members voted by four votes to three to grant a temporary 40-year permission for the scheme, off Nowhere Lane.
 
The council’s planning officers had recommended approval of the project, despite objections from individuals and organisations concerned about issues such as the scale of the development, increased traffic, the loss of agricultural land and safety concerns over lithium-ion batteries.
 
Reepham Town Council had objected to the plans, while Greg Peck, county councillor for Reepham, spoke against them, arguing that the project would destroy productive farmland as well as some scenic countryside and wildlife habitat.
 
Chris Banks, renewables development manager at Albanwise Synergy, said the scheme would contribute to the shift to greener energy, generating enough electricity to serve more than 14,000 homes a year and would offset nearly 6,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
 
To move the project forward, the developers will now have to obtain planning permission for an underground cable route to connect the solar farm to the Salle electricity substation near Cawston. This connection has been agreed with UK Power Networks, although the cable route has yet to be decided.
 
Following Broadland’s decision, Mr Banks said Albanwise Synergy is now working on possible cable routes, either to the north or south of Reepham, with a planning application aiming to be submitted by the end of this year.
 
It is anticipated that initial construction works for the solar farm could begin from late 2026 into 2027. Access to the site for construction traffic would be via the B1145 Dereham Road.
 
Read the EDP story HERE.
 
See our earlier stories:

• Pettywell solar farm set for approval despite objections
• Town council objects to solar farm project
• Public consultation now open on solar farm planning application
• Plans revealed for proposed Pettywell solar farm