Aukera, a firm specialising in renewable energy, wants to build a 3,600-acre plant on agricultural land near Long Stratton which would power about 200,000 homes.

The proposed Tasway Energy Park would cover an area equivalent to about 1,800 football pitches around the villages of Ashwellthorpe, Hapton, Tharston, Forncett St Mary, Forncett St Peter and Tacolneston.

It would be built close to another two massive solar schemes, the 2,700-acre East Pye and another, as-yet-unnamed one estimated to cover 2,500 and also near Long Stratton.

Locals fear it would leave the town effectively surrounded by panels, with little open countryside in the area.

Ashwellthorpe village sign and All Saints Church (Image: Denise Bradley)

Tasway is one of several solar projects planned for the county, as part of the Labour government's hugely ambitious net zero targets.

Before last year's general election, there were just 2,200 acres of solar farms in the county, but this will soar by more than 850pc to nearly 25,000 acres if all the current proposals go ahead.

The plans have been met with growing resistance in many Norfolk communities, with critics raising concerns about the loss of farmland as well as the cumulative impact on the landscape.

Frustration has been particularly acute because the ultimate decision on many of the projects will be taken by Ed Miliband, secretary of state for energy and net zero, rather than local councils.

In some areas, villagers have even been told they may be forced to sell their homes to make way for the panels.

SOLAR SIEGE

Few details are available currently about Tasway but Aukera has published a map of the farmland that could be turned into the massive renewable energy project.

READ MORE: Villagers could be evicted from their homes to make way for massive solar farm

Cows at a farm in Forncett St Peter (Image: Sonya........

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