Dan Grimmer

Public hearings on Island Green Power’s proposed East Pye Solar Farm in Norfolk will begin at Dunston Hall in September. The project would occupy about 2,718 acres near several villages and could generate up to 500MW of electricity, enough to power approximately 115,000 homes annually. Almost 2,000 public representations have been submitted, with concerns focused on the loss of farmland and effects on the countryside. The Planning Inspectorate will examine the evidence through written submissions and public hearings before inspector David Cliff makes a recommendation. The final decision will be made by Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, with the examination expected to conclude in February.

Construction has begun on a £40 million development at the former Woodside First and Infant School site off Witard Road in Norwich. The scheme will provide 127 homes, including 77 apartments for people aged 55 and over who need care and support, 22 supported-living homes for adults with disabilities or autism, and 28 family homes for social rent. Norfolk County Council contributed £5.5 million, with further funding from Homes England and Places for People. The council expects the development to improve specialist housing provision and reduce residential-care demand by around £1.2 million annually.

Norfolk County Council is continuing to lobby the UK Government for at least £500 million to upgrade the congested Ely rail junction and associated improvements at Haughley near Stowmarket. The Ely junction connects five rail routes and is operating at full capacity, limiting additional passenger and freight services and potentially constraining regional economic growth. Although the upgrades were announced under Rishi Sunak in 2023 and the government has described the business case as strong, no funding has been committed. Rising construction costs and the scheme’s complexity—including work on level crossings, bridges, signaling, Ely station and additional track—could increase the eventual bill.

Norfolk County Council has begun reassessing a revived Norwich Western Link after earlier proposals were withdrawn because of Natural England’s objections over environmental impacts, particularly on protected barbastelle bats. Early assessment suggests any new route may need to cross the River Wensum using the existing A1067 bridge at Attlebridge and connect to the A47 at Wood Lane, likely ruling out the previously proposed dual carriageway and viaduct. New bat surveys across a wide area are due to start and will help determine viable options. Reform cabinet member Tom Dickerson supports the project and is targeting a 2029 start, while Green councillor Jan Davis argues that further spending could be wasteful and that council funds should instead protect essential services.

Kai Stephens, a 22-year-old Norwich candidate for the British Democrats, received 132 votes in the Clacton by-election, finishing 11th among a record 34 candidates and losing his £500 deposit. Despite the result, Stephens said his campaign had achieved its objective of promoting “remigration,” a policy associated with his party’s far-right platform. His campaign also led to a confrontation with Clacton Pier staff over a banner and alleged pyrotechnics. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage won the seat with 22,239 votes and a 12,784-vote majority, while Count Binface finished second with 9,455 votes. Turnout was 44.37%, down more than 14 percentage points from the general election.

Norfolk County Council has awarded care contracts for 15 housing-with-care schemes to Universal Care Services and Radis after council-owned Norse Care chose not to bid when its contract expired. Norse Care staff transferred to the new providers. Unison and Green councillor Jenny Knight raised concerns about possible reductions in care and poorer employment conditions, while cabinet member Scott Hussey said care levels would initially be maintained, many familiar carers would remain, and staff employment and pension protections had been secured.

Reform leaders on Norfolk County Council have expressed qualified support for a proposed seven-acre AI data centre near Keswick and the Harford Bridge Tesco site. Cabinet member Kabeer Kher highlighted the potential for 150 skilled local jobs and the use of closed-loop cooling and power linked to the Hornsea 3 wind farm system. The proposal has attracted opposition from more than 11,000 petition signatories, with concerns about its location, environmental effects, water supplies and energy infrastructure. Any application will be submitted to South Norfolk Council and assessed on its individual planning merits.

A Green councillor apologised after making an offensive gesture toward Reform councillors during a Norfolk County Council meeting ahead of a motion on freedom of expression. Reform councillors raised the incident as a point of order, prompting apologies from Green group leader Maxine Webb and the councillor responsible, Amber Smith. The incident influenced discussion surrounding a proposed review of how freedom of expression protections apply to councillor conduct. Reactions from local political figures described the gesture as inappropriate, while Green representatives emphasised a commitment to respectful debate.