Bradenham in Norfolk to be surrounded by a huge solar farm

But Bradenham looks set to gain a new claim to fame: as the epicentre of the UK's biggest solar farm, a facility more than 15 times the size of the country's current largest.

If plans from German energy firm RWE are approved by the secretary of state, a 4,000-acre energy plant called High Grove will be built in the fields encircling the village as part of efforts to meet the country's ambitious net zero targets.

Bradenham village, near Dereham (Image: Denise Bradley)

The site will cover a large area of farmland - roughly equivalent to 2,667 football pitches - dotted between Dereham and Swaffham, across several parishes.

But it is Bradenham, home to 700 people, that will be most encircled by the panels.

And many in the village are not happy about the prospect, raising concerns about the impact on the countryside, the loss of farmland and the cost and efficiency of the scheme.

'IT'S BEYOND HORRENDOUS' 

Malcolm Barnes, who moved to the area 20 years ago, said: "It's absolutely terrible. I bought this house to retire in and a lot of people did the same.

"They're going to spoil everything and I don't see what we're going to gain from this. It's an amazing amount of land they're using."

Malcolm Barnes (Image: Denise Bradley) James and Nicole Brown, who moved to Bradenham from Wigan, said: "We didn't realise the scale of this as a lot of the information we've been given is very vague.

"We moved here for the open fields and to get away from it all. We appreciate it might be selfish but this is a lovely place and we want to know how the village will be impacted."

James and Nicole Brown (Image: Denise Bradley) Linda Cordell added: "It's beyond horrendous and I've never heard anything like it. This village has changed quite a lot over the years but it's still stunning."

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Linda Cordell (Image: Denise Bradley)

IN THE HANDS OF ED MILIBAND

Local opposition, however strong, may have a limited impact on stopping the plans though.

Because of its scale, the project has been designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.

Energy Secretary Ed Milliband (Image: Jordan Pettitt) This means it will bypass the usual planning processes - which would leave the decision in the hands of locally-elected councillors - with the final verdict resting with Ed Miliband, the secretary of state for energy security and net zero.

'DEEPLY DISTURBING'

The High Grove project looks like it will become an increasingly political issue.

Kay Mason Billig, the Conservative leader of Norfolk County Council, last week launched an extraordinary broadside on the "plethora" of solar farm applications coming in.

In addition to High Grove, another energy firm has unveiled plans in recent days for the 2,700-acre East Pye solar farm, near the village of Hempnall.

If approved - again, by Mr Miliband - it will be second in size only to High Grove.

Mrs Mason Billig claimed Norfolk was "under attack" from the "deeply disturbing" schemes.

Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig (Image: Norfolk County Council) She refused to call them farms "because they are anything but that", and added: "What they are is taking up valuable agricultural land which should be used for food production."

Mrs Mason Billig believes Norfolk's rural communities will pay a disproportionate price for net zero targets.

She claimed they were being "exploited by the government to feed the power-hungry southeast".

Near to the proposed East Pye site, communities are already infuriated by plans to install a new line of pylons to take renewable energy from Norfolk's offshore wind farms to London.

Communities elsewhere in the county - including near Bradenham - are also smarting about the disruption caused by deep trenches being dug through their countryside to bury electrical cables bringing the power onshore.

For his part, Mr Ed Miliband has said solar power is "crucial" to delivering on the government's broader ambitions to hit net zero by 2050 and has previously declared his intention to push onshore wind and solar farms ahead where the case for them is merited.

His boss, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, has also been clear in his support for such projects.

In his speech to the Labour conference last week he pledged more solar farms would go ahead and pylons be built.

BIGGER PICTURE

On the ground in Bradenham, opposition to High Grove is far from universal.

Some in the village feel the solar development is a necessary part of the country's transition to green energy.

Diana MacMullen, whose home is close to one of the earmarked fields, said: "It's an enormous project but the site in Bradenham is only a tiny proportion of the whole.

"We are concerned about access to the field as the roads here are too narrow for large vehicles. There will need to be ongoing maintenance and we could end up with 40 years of headaches."

Diana MacMullen (Image: Denise Bradley) John Pleasant, another Bradenham local, said: "It's not so critical for me but if I was overlooking one of the fields maybe I would feel differently.

"This energy has got to come from somewhere."

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John Pleasant (Image: Denise Bradley)

WHAT ELSE IS INVOLVED IN HIGH GROVE?

If approved, the farm will be built on five sites. As well as thousands of solar panels, there will also be battery storage systems and substations, all connected via an underground cable route. 

RWE's initial proposals for the High Grove project (Image: RWE) The project will also require a large new National Grid substation to be built in the region, but the location of this is yet to be confirmed. 

RWE has also led the development of Norfolk Boreas, Norfolk Vanguard West and Norfolk Vanguard East, collectively known as the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW? 

RWE has launched its initial consultation into the scheme and does not expect construction to get under way until 2028. 

There will be in-person events over the next few weeks in Shipdham, Ashill, Necton and Sporle, where feedback from the public will be used to refine the current design of the farm.

This field in Bradenham is one site to have been earmarked for the High Grove development (Image: Denise Bradley) Mike Greslow, project manager for High Grove, said: "We understand the importance of community consultation, as only by working with local people can we ensure the best possible scheme is delivered.

"RWE hope local people will take the opportunity to find out more about the plans by visiting the website and attending one of the drop-in events or webinars."