Necton homeowner left with unanswered questions over potential solar farm near her property
A Necton homeowner has been left with unanswered questions after purchasing a home near land which could soon house a huge solar farm.
The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, has voiced her concerns to the Lynn News about the impact the farm would have on the land surrounding her home.
She says she has not received all the correct correspondence regarding what could potentially happen to the outlook of her property.
The resident purchased the Necton house in September last year, but the previous owners failed to inform her about RWE’s proposed plans to build a solar farm on the adjacent fields.
When she contacted the company requesting paperwork sent to the previous homeowner back in March, she received no reply.
Two months on, the resident has still yet to hear anything from RWE.
She also voiced concerns about the solar farm’s potential impact on wildlife in the fields at the back of her house.
She says she has spotted white deer there, which are thought to be rare, as well as buzzards, kites, kestrels and owls.
“Will it drive the wildlife away?” she asked.
“I never would have bought this property if I had known about these plans.
“There are unspoilt views - you cannot see or hear the A47. I’m in the middle of nowhere - I can see deer, owls and birds of prey.
“I think it is outrageous that RWE are not communicating with me because I have just purchased this property. I think it is just disgusting.”
The resident said she plans on attending one of the public consultation meetings held by RWE, with a legal representative.
She added: “If they cannot communicate at this stage, what will happen when they start tugging things up?”
RWE has proposed bringing the solar farm to areas around Swaffham and surrounding villages, including Necton, Ashill and Narborough.
Once operational, the company says High Grove Solar Farm would provide enough clean electricity to power approximately 363,000 homes, displacing more than 24.8million tonnes of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of taking 368,500 cars off the road for a year.
Many have voiced their concerns for the plans, including Swaffham Town Council, which believes the fields should be kept as farmland.
Swaffham’s mayor, Paul Darby, expressed his disappointment to Breckland Council after it launched an appeal for landowners to give up fields for solar farm projects like RWE’s.
RWE has been approached for comment, but had not replied by the time we went to press.
