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Why Mega Solar? Why now?

A side-by-side comparison of a green field growing arable crops and the same field with security fencing, lighting, danger signage and huge banks of batteries.

Created by CPRE Norfolk

The rush for large-scale solar and what it means

The UK’s commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050 has accelerated the demand for renewable energy.

While this goal is essential, the current approach to solar deployment is developer-led rather than strategically planned, with companies racing to secure land without a national framework to guide where solar should go.

Why developers are targeting Norfolk

Flat topography and open farmland make construction simple and cheap.
Proximity to grid connections and proposed pylon routes reduces costs.
Fewer planning constraints than in upland or urban counties.

However, this approach ignores key principles of sustainability and fairness:

No national land-use strategy exists to balance energy generation with food security.
Public consultation is limited under the NSIP process, reducing community influence.
Cumulative impacts are not assessed, meaning overlapping projects can proceed unchecked.

The result is that Norfolk, one of England’s most productive agricultural regions and most visited rural destinations, faces a disproportionate share of this industrialisation.