Impact on Norfolk – communities and homes

The lived experience

Noise

Inverter units, battery storage systems, and security systems generate a low mechanical hum, 24 hours a day.

Light pollution

Constant security lighting and CCTV break dark skies and rural tranquillity.

Visual intrusion

Fences, access roads, and tall panels dominate views once defined by hedgerows and crops.

Safety concerns

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) pose risks of fire and toxic gas release if mishandled.

Norfolk voices

Residents in areas like Great Moulton, Tasburgh, and Blofield describe feeling “hemmed in” by walls of fencing and losing the rural peace that drew them to their homes in the first place.

Tourism providers and small business owners worry that the change in landscape character could discourage visitors and investment.

A fair transition

CPRE Norfolk supports a just transition to clean energy, one that does not create winners and losers.

The people most affected by energy infrastructure must have a genuine voice in shaping it.

Community consultation should begin early, be transparent, and respect local knowledge.

This page is based on the exhibition board “Impact on Norfolk – Communities and Homes” from CPRE Norfolk’s Getting Solar OFF the Land Exhibition (2025).

Sources: 

CPRE Norfolk, 2025 – Community Impact Survey (NSIP Solar Projects).
SolarQ, 2024 – “Human Impacts of Industrial Solar in Rural Areas.”