10/07/25: Breckland Council members vote to 'Save Our Countryside' from solar farms

Members of Breckland Council have voted in favour of undertaking a raft of activities which aim to protect rural communities, the environment and the landscape from vast solar projects, while acknowledging that there is a place for proportionate solar power schemes.

At the meeting of Full Council today (10 July), a Motion was put forward by Cllr Fabian Eagle, Ward Member for Ashill, and seconded by Cllr Lynda Turner, Ward Member for Shipdham with Scarning. The 'Save our Countryside' Motion secured cross-party support, passing with unanimous vote.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Eagle commented: "While we recognise the importance of renewable energy production and the role solar farms play in this, we cannot allow our district and its villages to end up inside the UK's biggest power station by area and for the district's name to become associated with power production rather than as a beautiful geographical area.

"We're not against solar farms in general, but we must make sure their locations are strategically considered and supported by local people, they don't threaten essential farmland, and Norfolk doesn't end up picking up the energy tab for the rest of the country."

The vote means Breckland Council will oppose large-scale solar farm developments in Breckland that lack local support, threaten farmland and wildlife, or which fail to provide a local benefit.

Breckland's Members agreed to reaffirm support for local MPs George Freeman and Terry Jermy and Norfolk County Council's similar position on solar farms and, alongside other Norfolk authorities, to call for a more strategic and locally accountable approach to renewable energy development.

The Council will also write to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to try to ensure planning decisions around solar farms and renewable energy are made locally not in London and take into account the views of local people.

Breckland is further calling for a review of energy distribution and infrastructure policy to ensure the district and county's role in energy production for the UK puts it in line for further investment and protection is put in place for the environment and Norfolk's landscapes.