Bloy’s Grove solar farm

EDF Renewables UK has received consent to develop a 49.9 MW solar farm – Bloy’s Grove – between the villages of Swainsthorpe and Mulbarton, just south of Norwich, which will be capable of generating enough low carbon electricity for the average needs of 14,600 South Norfolk households* annually.

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A planning application was submitted to South Norfolk District Council in October 2021 following an extensive consultation process during which the project team received valuable feedback from local stakeholders and residents.

EDF Renewables  listened to the feedback received and  incorporated changes into the project. The number of panel rows in the north-east of the site has been reduced to reduce visual impact on nearby residents. EDF Renewables will also improve biodiversity on site, such as planting trees, hedges, and wildflower and grass meadow throughout the site. EDF Renewables has now also pledged to plant an orchard on the edge of the site and will organise community harvesting days.

Since receiving planning permission from South Norfolk District Council in August 2022 we have been working to fulfil our obligations and meet the requirements of the pre-commencement planning conditions. We also worked with the council on our planning application for our cable route, connecting the solar farm to Norwich substation, which was granted in Autumn 2023.

Amongst growing concern about climate change, which was clear in the consultation responses we received, the 49.9MW Bloy’s Grove project could contribute to saving around 14,000 tonnes** of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The project will also deliver significant additional local benefits. If planning permission is granted, a community fund of £20,000 will be paid annually for the 35-year lifetime of the project, double the sum proposed during the consultation period.

* Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS), 2020a, Sub-National Electricity Consumption Statistics.
** Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS), 2020b, UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting.