2 days ago
Britain's biggest solar farm threatens Domesday villages
The developer of Britain's largest solar farm has told residents of three Norfolk villages that appear in the Domesday Book that their land may be 'required'.
Dozens of villagers in Hempnall, Saxlingham and Tasburgh were sent letters warning them that their homes may be needed to create space for the East Pye Solar project.
The development will cover 2,500 acres, an area the size of Chichester, in West Sussex, and it is 10 times bigger than the UK's current largest solar farm in Flintshire, Wales.
Letters sent in the last two months asked villagers detailed questions about their mortgages. In total, residents in 23 villages between Long Stratton and Diss are believed to have been sent the letters, which state their land may be 'required'.
If the East Pye Solar proposal goes ahead, it would deliver up to 500 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 115,000 homes annually.
As the plans are deemed a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP), the developer, Island Green Power, could have the power to compulsorily purchase land.
Farmers around the UK have been threatened with the possibility of compulsory purchase orders for solar farm development, but this is believed to be the first time homeowners have been approached.
Residents of Hempnall, which has a population of 1,238, criticised the letter's 'impertinent' and 'unreasonable' line of questioning.
Yvonne Davy, 89, is among dozens of residents who received letters from the developer's lawyers, Dalcour Maclaren. Ms Davy, who has lived in Hempnall since 1973, said she received three letters, dated April 9, May 2 and May 29, and an unwanted phone call.
The great-grandmother, who has an electric car and solar panels on her roof, said: 'I thought that can't be right. They were asking about my finances and my mortgage. It is quite impertinent. I wasn't very pleased when they rang me at the seaside, and I told them what they're planning to do isn't very nice at all. I don't know how they got my number.'
Developers would get her land 'over her dead body', she added, saying: 'They're putting these vast numbers of panels, and it's going to blight the countryside. Where I walk and where I live is going to be surrounded by solar panels the height of a house. It would be dreadful.
'I'm going to be 90 this year, and I'm happily settled. I don't want to lose my property.'
Robert Eagle, 77, has also received multiple letters, with the first in early April, followed by three reminders to fill out the questionnaire. Mr Eagle, who has lived in Hempnall for 27 years, said he felt 'unreasonably' chased by the company for his financial information.
He said: 'At first I was surprised to receive the letter because I didn't realise such detailed information would be needed at this stage. If I had to give up my home, I would certainly not be pleased. We've been here a long time and we'd like to remain here.
'The thing that really hits us is how unreasonable the project is in terms of scale.'
David Hook, the chairman of Hempnall Parish Council, said it was 'extremely concerned' about the solar farm proposals.
He said: 'The East Pye scheme, if permitted, would surround our village and cover in total 2,718 acres of South Norfolk countryside with solar panels.
'Our objection to these schemes is due primarily to the fact that their construction would result in the industrialisation of large areas of attractive, tranquil countryside with solar panels and security fences.
'The NSIP regime also provides developers with compulsory purchase powers and this is causing great concern to many local residents, in Hempnall and many other villages included in the scheme, who have received letters saying their home 'may be required'.
Island Green Power said: 'As part the development consent order process, East Pye Solar will be undertaking land interest questionnaires to identify people and organisations that have a legal interest in land or property that may potentially be impacted by the scheme.
'This is a statutory obligation under the 2008 Planning Act, and is routine for helping to identify those with legal interest in land.
'Completing land referencing questionnaires allows these stakeholders to be consulted on the development consent order application and ensures they receive formal notification such as when the scheme is accepted for examination.'
The Telegraph has contacted the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
