As part of his commitment to protecting the environment in North West Norfolk, James Wild MP has met developers of proposed solar farm projects to share his concerns about loss of prime agricultural land and set out concerns raised by local residents.
Following concerns raised with James from residents of Castle Acre and other local villages, he met representatives from RWE’s High Grove Solar Farm and Droves Solar Farm to understand the potential impacts of these projects on local communities. The meetings provided an opportunity to discuss the scope of the developments, the mitigation of environmental impacts, and the integration of community benefit plans into the consultation processes.
James has been increasingly concerned over the number of large-scale energy projects in Norfolk from pylons to solar farms. He is dedicated to ensuring that the expansion of energy infrastructure does not come at the expense of agricultural land, local food production, or the preservation of Norfolk’s cultural heritage.
Given that he has met developers proposing solar farms as the cumulative impact of these developments could result in the loss of prime agricultural land. If any projects - due to their scale they are considered nationally significant infrastructure - are approved by the Energy Secretary then villages hosting energy infrastructure projects must receive community benefits. He also voiced concerns about preserving cultural heritage sites, particularly in Castle Acre, and sought assurances from both developers that preserving cultural heritage will be at the forefront of decision making.
Having previously raised these concerns in Parliament with the Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, James continues to advocate for rural communities to be adequately supported and compensated for hosting significant energy projects.
Additionally, James stressed the importance of ensuring that materials used in these large-scale projects are ethically sourced. This has been a point he has raised both in talks with developers and in previous contributions to debates in the House of Commons. Focusing on using these projects as opportunity to showcase British industrial engineering, boosting our economy and creating more jobs through skilled apprenticeships.
Speaking after the meetings, James said:
"The preservation of our farming land, environment, heritage local communities are my priorities. While decisions on large schemes are made by the government, they must take account of the cumulative impact of developments in Norfolk and not undermine our food security. I remain committed to maintaining close communication with residents, developers, and the Government, ensuring that our natural landscape is safeguarded and communities are fairly compensated."
