6 days ago
Norfolk villagers angry after letter says their homes could be 'required' for East Pye solar farm
A great-grandmother has told ITV News she feels "overwhelmed" after dozens of residents in her village received a letter saying their homes "may be required" by a solar farm developer.
The East Pye Solar Project would see more than 2,500 acres of countryside across 100 fields in south Norfolk turned into one of the UK's biggest solar farms, affecting villages including Hempnall, Saxlingham and Tasburgh.
Proposed last year, it would power around 115,000 homes and a statutory consultation will begin this summer.
But 89-year-old Yvonne Davy and dozens of fellow residents have received a letter from developer Island Green Power's lawyers which has left them "alarmed".
The letter, from firm Dalcour Maclaren, said East Pye Solar Ltd believe they may have an interest in the residents' land or property, which could be "required for the project".
Ms Davy told ITV News Anglia she was "absolutely appalled" to receive the letter, which she feels implies residents' property could be acquired.
The great-grandmother, who has solar panels on her roof and drives an electric car, said: "I thought, they'll get my property over my dead body, which is a bit extreme but it would really damage me a great deal.
"I'm just overwhelmed by it, really."
The project is deemed to be of national significance, meaning the final decision will be made by the Planning Inspectorate.
That could give the developer the power to compulsory purchase land, but they have said their intention is to deliver the scheme without doing that.
"It left me feeling unsettled": Rob Setchell spoke to Hempnall residents who received the letter
The parish council said residents felt "harassed" after residents were also contacted on their personal mobile phones.
David Hook, chairman of Hempnall Parish Council, told ITV News Anglia the power to compulsory purchase property and land is "a very worrying thing".
He said: "Everyone should love the countryside, it's a precious national asset.
"We should be protecting it, not destroying it.
"It's everybody's legacy."
Island Green Power said: "East Pye Solar will be undertaking Land Interest Questionnaires (LIQ) 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 (DCO) application and ensures they receive formal notification such as when the Scheme is accepted for examination."
It said East Pye is crucial for meeting climate targets to triple solar power by 2030.
Around three quarters of people who responded to the first local consultation last autumn were against the plan.
