Plans for the 254-acre so-called Jafa plant in Great Dunham, near Swaffham, were first approved in 2023, when it was then one of the largest schemes of its kind in the country.

However delays in connecting the 49.9 megawatt site to the national grid and other strict planning conditions have meant that the land has remained untouched.

This week, Breckland Council agreed to relax a series of constraints which will allow the developers, Low Carbon UK, to begin work at the site after nearly three years of delays.

Work is finally expected to begin after plans for a new substation were approved by Breckland Council (Image: PA)

While the installation of panels remain on hold until other conditions are met, plans for a new substation have been allowed to commence.

Under the new approval, engineers will lay four concrete pads to support the substation, that will allow the solar farm to connect to the wider electricity network.

The position of the energy facility has also been amended and will now be closer to the adjacent road to allow better access.

Little Dunham Parish Council had initially agreed to the plans in 2023, but opposed the new amendments.

It argued that the developer was trying to “ignore” previously agreed arrangements, and raised fears about the impact on the quiet rural area.

Breckland Council have relaxed certain conditions within the agreement (Image: Ian Burt)

The planning officer recommended approval, concluding that the changes were minor in nature and did not alter the principle of the development.

The other conditions the developer will still have to adhere to before wider work begins include drainage and landscaping requirements.

The scheme, which will power a quarter of Breckland’s homes once it’s completed, will run for 40 years before the land is restored for agricultural use.

When it was approved, Jafa was among the largest solar projects in the country, but it has since been eclipsed by even bigger “mega‑farm” proposals across Norfolk, including the nearby High Grove scheme, which is designed to power 360,000 homes.

© Eastern Daily Press