Land South Of Hall Road Alderford Norfolk Data via plota.co.uk

2025/1969 - Full Refused

Proposal

Installation and operation of a Solar Farm together with all associated works, equipment and necessary infrastructure. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
1 Jul 2025
✓
Consultation
23 Feb 2026
✗
Refused
10 Mar 2026
Appeal
Not lodged

Refused on 10 Mar 2026 · Development Management Committee · Last checked 15 Oct 2026

Planning committee

Decided by South Norfolk Broadland Broadland Planning Committee on 5 Mar 2026.

Refused

Against officer advice: officers had recommended approval.

  • Officers advised approval because the renewable energy benefits outweighed the identified harms, subject to a legal agreement and conditions.
  • Members voted 5–4 to refuse the application, contrary to the officer recommendation, because of the loss of Best and Most Versatile agricultural land.
Read how the committee decided The proposal, site, officer assessment, objections, committee debate, vote and reasons for refusal.

Source: Plota analysis of South Norfolk Broadland's committee minutes of 5 Mar 2026.

Documents 189

Statements & assessments 36

PDF Ecological impact assessment Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF National policy statement for renewable energy infrastructure en-3 Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF National policy statement for energy en-1 Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Future energy scenarios 2025 pathways to net zero v.5_0 Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Cast advice note 5 renewable energy developments Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF British energy security strategy 2022 Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Statement of common ground Appeal Correspondence (D) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Broadland council statement of case Council's Case (K) · 17 Jun 2026 View ↗ PDF Statement of common ground Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Jun 2026 View ↗ PDF Appellants statement of case Appellant's Case (K) · 19 May 2026 View ↗ PDF Appellants statement of case - appendix c Appellant's Case (K) · 19 May 2026 View ↗ PDF Lead local flood authority Consultee Comment (D) · 23 Feb 2026 View ↗ PDF Ecologist & biodiversity apprentice Consultee Comment (D) · 5 Dec 2025 View ↗ PDF Arboricultural impact assessment Consultee Comment (D) · 5 Nov 2025 View ↗ PDF Ecology & biodiversity comments Consultee Comment (D) · 7 Oct 2025 View ↗ PDF Bng report Report (K) · 4 Sept 2025 View ↗ PDF Amended bng metric Report (K) · 4 Sept 2025 View ↗ PDF Bng condition assessment Report (K) · 4 Sept 2025 View ↗ PDF Ecological impact assessment Report (K) · 4 Sept 2025 View ↗ PDF Noise assessment Report (K) · 11 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF Senior heritage & design officer Consultee Comment (D) · 6 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF Ecology officer Consultee Comment (D) · 6 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF Ecology report Report (K) · 4 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF Lead local flood authority Consultee Comment (D) · 11 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Landscape and visual impact assessment Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Historic environment desk-based assessment Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Design and access statement Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Noise statement Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Planning and sustainability statement Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Planning statement BackGround Papers (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Flood risk assessment/drain stratergy Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Transport statement and construction traffic management plan Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Bng metric 2025-05-19 Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Pre-development and post-development habitat survey report for calculation of bi Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Arboricultural impact assessment Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Preliminary ecological appraisal Report (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗

Consultation & comments 90

PDF Natural england response 16 july 2025 Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Email from planning inspectorate inviting comments re nppf 2026 Appeal Correspondence (D) · 27 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Public comment Public Comment (D) · 14 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Consultee list for hearing letter Appeal Correspondence (D) · 11 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Interested parties comments Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Jun 2026 View ↗ PDF Interested parties comments Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Jun 2026 View ↗ PDF Appeal consultee list Council's Case (K) · 19 May 2026 View ↗ PDF Historic environment officer comments Consultee Comment (D) · 13 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF East anglia environment agency Consultee Comment (D) · 12 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF Historic england Consultee Comment (D) · 9 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF Natural england Consultee Comment (D) · 9 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF Designing out crime officer Consultee Comment (D) · 6 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF Ncc minerals and waste Consultee Comment (D) · 4 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF Environmental quality Consultee Comment (D) · 3 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF Ncc public rights of way Consultee Comment (D) · 26 Feb 2026 View ↗ PDF Environmental quality team Consultee Comment (D) · 24 Feb 2026 View ↗ PDF Re consultation request Officer Notes · 23 Feb 2026 View ↗ PDF Norwich international airport Consultee Comment (D) · 23 Feb 2026 View ↗ PDF Anglian water services ltd Consultee Comment (D) · 23 Feb 2026 View ↗ PDF Highway authority Consultee Comment (D) · 9 Dec 2025 View ↗ PDF Ncc highways Consultee Comment (D) · 9 Dec 2025 View ↗ PDF Historic england comment Consultee Comment (D) · 5 Dec 2025 View ↗ PDF Parish council comment Consultee Comment (D) · 4 Dec 2025 View ↗ PDF Landscape architect (file note) Consultee Comment (D) · 24 Nov 2025 View ↗ PDF Parish council Consultee Comment (D) · 20 Nov 2025 View ↗ PDF Ward councillor comment Consultee Comment (D) · 12 Nov 2025 View ↗ PDF Public comment Public Comment (D) · 12 Nov 2025 View ↗ PDF Public comment Public Comment (D) · 12 Nov 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 7 Nov 2025 View ↗
PDF Re-consultation instruction Officer Notes · 3 Nov 2025 View ↗ PDF The landscape partnership response to lpa comments Appeal Correspondence (D) · 27 Oct 2025 View ↗ PDF Officer request for reconsultation BackGround Papers (K) · 24 Oct 2025 View ↗ PDF Norfolk wildlife trust Consultee Comment (D) · 17 Sept 2025 View ↗ PDF The landscape partnership response to lpa comments BackGround Papers (K) · 4 Sept 2025 View ↗ PDF Environmental quality team Consultee Comment (D) · 12 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF Great witchingham parish council Consultee Comment (D) · 12 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF Officer request for reconsultation BackGround Papers (K) · 11 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF Officer request for reconsultation BackGround Papers (K) · 11 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF Anglian water comments Consultee Comment (D) · 11 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF Resident Public Comment (D) · 4 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF Resident Public Comment (D) · 4 Aug 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 30 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Neighbour comment Objection Comment · 25 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Public comment Public Comment (D) · 25 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Public comment Public Comment (D) · 25 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 24 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 24 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Public comment Public Comment (D) · 24 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 23 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 23 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 23 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 23 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 23 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 23 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF District member Consultee Comment (D) · 23 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 23 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 23 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 23 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Norfolk wildlife trust Consultee Comment (D) · 22 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 21 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Conservation & tree officer Consultee Comment (D) · 21 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Norwich airport comments Consultee Comment (D) · 21 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Ncc highways Consultee Comment (D) · 21 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Cpre comments Consultee Comment (D) · 19 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Public comment Public Comment (D) · 19 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Swannington parish council Consultee Comment (D) · 18 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Historic england comments Consultee Comment (D) · 18 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 17 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 16 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 16 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Designing out crime officer Consultee Comment (D) · 16 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Natural england comments Consultee Comment (D) · 16 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 16 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 15 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 15 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 15 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 15 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF County councillor Consultee Comment (D) · 15 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 14 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 13 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 13 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 12 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Environmental quality team Consultee Comment (D) · 11 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 11 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Water management alliance Consultee Comment (D) · 11 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 10 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Public Comment (D) · 10 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Objector’s name hidden Show Objection Comment · 8 Jul 2025 View ↗
PDF Ward member - cllr p bulman Consultee Comment (D) · 8 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Designing out crime officer Consultee Comment (D) · 7 Jul 2025 View ↗

Other documents 41

PDF Updated list of draft conditions Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Email from the planning inspectorate to natural england Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Hearing agenda Appeal Correspondence (D) · 11 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Email from case officer to the planning inspectorate - pre hearing note Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Email from case officer to the planning inspectorate - pre hearing note Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF European site conservation objectives for broadland special protection area Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF The broads sac citation Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF River wensum sssi citation Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Circular 01_2010 control of development in airport public safety zones Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Alderford common sssi citation Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Marriott?s way - county wildlife site Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF County wildlife site - lenwade pits (east) Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF County wildlife site - bush meadow plantation Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF County wildlife site - lake adj. concrete plant Council's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Email from appellant to the planning inspectorate - pre hearing note Appellant's Case (K) · 8 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF Pre hearing note Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF Letter to advise hearing date - 15th september 2026 Appeal Correspondence (D) · 11 Aug 2026 View ↗
PDF Name hidden Show Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Jun 2026 View ↗
PDF District member - cllr p bulman Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Jun 2026 View ↗ PDF Old post office Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Jun 2026 View ↗ PDF Interested party Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Jun 2026 View ↗ PDF Interested party Appeal Correspondence (D) · 17 Jun 2026 View ↗ PDF Appeal notification letter Council's Case (K) · 19 May 2026 View ↗ PDF Broadland appeal questionnaire & supporting documents Council's Case (K) · 19 May 2026 View ↗ PDF Appeal start email Appeal Correspondence (D) · 12 May 2026 View ↗ PDF Returned post - 3 church farm Correspondence (D) · 7 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF Returned post - 5 church farm Correspondence (D) · 7 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF Returned post - 8 church farm Correspondence (D) · 7 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF Returned post - 4 church farm Correspondence (D) · 7 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF Returned post - 6 church farm Correspondence (D) · 7 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF Returned post - 1 church farm Correspondence (D) · 7 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF Returned post - 2 church farm Correspondence (D) · 7 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF Returned post - 7 church farm Correspondence (D) · 7 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF Extension of time Correspondence (D) · 23 Feb 2026 View ↗ PDF Officer note Officer Notes · 6 Nov 2025 View ↗ PDF Highways technical note Report (K) · 3 Nov 2025 View ↗ PDF Email exchange with agent, incl. extension of tim Correspondence (D) · 4 Sept 2025 View ↗ PDF Edp press advert BackGround Papers (K) · 8 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Agricultural land classification issue 1 BackGround Papers (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF View points Photo (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗ PDF Solar photovoltaic glint and glare study BackGround Papers (K) · 1 Jul 2025 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 6

Nutrient neutrality catchment: River Wensum SAC
New homes and overnight accommodation must show nutrient neutrality before approval.
Natural England advice: extra wastewater in these catchments harms protected habitats, so schemes must offset their nutrient load, usually through credits.
Agricultural land, grade 2
Best and most versatile land (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Source: the Predictive Agricultural Land Classification Map (Defra and Natural England, 2025; the Welsh Government's Predictive ALC Map 2 in Wales), a model rather than a site survey. Natural England's Provisional ALC map (1:250,000, 1970s), which most planning maps still show, had this area as grade 3. The predicted grade is Defra's current estimate; only a site survey settles it.
Where development of farmland is needed, policy prefers poorer land over the best and most versatile (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Three sources: Natural England's post-1988 field surveys, which are definitive where they exist; the Defra predictive map for England (2025) and the Welsh Government predictive map, modelled from the soil map with 3a and 3b split; and the 1970s provisional map, which planners and other services still show, coarser and with grade 3 undivided. Where the provisional and predicted grades disagree, treat the predicted grade as the current estimate and expect an application to carry its own survey.
National infrastructure project about 120 m away: Hornsea Project Three Offshore Wind Farm
The site is about 120 m from the project boundary. Generating station, decided. The project page says whether consent was granted. Also within 2 km: Sheringham and Dudgeon Extension Projects (decided, about 1191 m).
Nationally significant infrastructure projects (power stations, electricity lines, pipelines, major roads and railways, harbours, airports and reservoirs) are consented by a Secretary of State under the Planning Act 2008, after an examination by the Planning Inspectorate, rather than by the council. The boundary is the one the Inspectorate consults on and can change as the scheme does. Projects are shown within 2 km of the site.
Planning Inspectorate project page ↗
Habitat network: Network Enhancement Zone 2
Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.
Also on the record
1 listed building within 150 m of the postcode pin; SSSI about 436 m away: Alderford Common SSSI.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 1 November 2026. The pin for this application is the centre of its postcode rather than the building, so distances to nearby designations are measured from the postcode and can be out by the width of the postcode area. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Planning Inspectorate and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Important details

Application type
Full
Received
1 Jul 2025
Validated
1 Jul 2025
Ward
Great Witchingham
Parish
Alderford
Case officer
Show
Target decision
13 Mar 2026
Decision
Refusal
Decision date
10 Mar 2026
Decision level
Development Management Committee
Applicant
Show

How this decision compares

Decided in 252 days from validation, 152 days slower than South Norfolk Broadland's median of 100 for full applications. Refused, as 14% of full applications here are.

22%decided within 8 weeks
86%approved
10%go to committee

Plota live figures for full applications decided by South Norfolk Broadland in the last twelve months, from validation. South Norfolk Broadland decision record →

Public comments

32comments received
30 objecting2 neutral

94% object · above the UK average of 74%

72 neighbours consulted · Last counted 15 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-14030042
Planning Portal ref
PP-14030042
Neighbours
23 Feb 2026
Consultation
23 Feb 2026
Comments by
18 Mar 2026
Site or press notice
22 Jul 2025
Committee
5 Mar 2026
Statutory expiry
30 Sept 2025
Env. assessment
No
South Norfolk Broadland
Planning Authority Score
5.9/10
Average
#106 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

South Norfolk Broadland ranks #136 out of 296 councils for householder decision speed. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (95%) than the national average (90%).

These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
South Norfolk Broadland decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
93%
Overall approval rate
Above avg (87%) #50 of 296
95%
Householder approved
Above avg (90%) #71 of 296
67%
Decided in 8 weeks
Above avg (63%) #136 of 296
42%
Extended time limit
Above avg (41%) #161 of 296
82%
Minor dwellings approved
137 decided (1-9 homes)
92%
Major dwellings approved
12 decided (10+ homes)
100%
Change of use approved
33 decided
1,013
Total decisions
67 refused in the year to March 2026