The Droves Solar Farm Limited, a subsidiary of Island Green Power (IGP) is bringing forward proposed plans for a solar farm with battery energy storage located on land north of Swaffham and south of Castle Acre, West Norfolk.
We are currently undertaking land surveys and assessments to determine the proposed Site layout.
Engagement to date
To date, we have conducted introductory meetings with key stakeholders who have expert knowledge of the local area. This engagement has helped us understand potential concerns and opportunities at the Site and its surrounding context. Our early efforts have also included a series of workshops and communications with the landowner and nearby properties.
This engagement was essential for the preparation and refinement of our more detailed proposals, which we are now presenting as part of our statutory consultation. Following this, we will prepare to submit our Development Consent Order (“DCO”) application, which we expect to be in autumn 2025.
About Island Green Power
Established in 2013, Island Green Power is a leading developer of utility-scale solar projects and battery energy systems. IGP delivers renewable energy solutions that create lasting value for the communities it serves, protecting the environment while fostering economic growth and energy independence.
Since launch, it has successfully delivered more than 34 solar projects worldwide that have generated more than 3 GW of energy capacity. This includes 20 solar projects in the UK. These range in size from below 5 MW to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects such as Cottam Solar Project, currently the UK’s largest consented solar project. Cottam will generate 600 MW of clean, renewable and secure electricity and includes 600 MW of battery storage that will store then release energy.
Why Solar?
The way we consume energy is already changing. The move towards renewables and the transition away from fossil fuels is an environmental and economic necessity.
To meet the government’s net zero and climate change targets as set out in the latest Make Britain a clean energy superpower (2024), it is essential to boost the UK’s solar energy generation. We need to get large amounts of renewable energy in the system to generate clean, renewable energy that will contribute towards our energy security and combat climate change.
This is why The Droves Solar Farm (“the Project ”) is so important. If consented, the Project could generate up to 500 MWac (Megawatt Alternating Current) of renewable energy, enough to power approximately 115,000 homes annually. The battery energy storage would help store surplus energy and deploy it to the national grid when needed.
Our Proposals
The Droves Solar Farm will:
Be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (“NSIP”) with the potential to generate up to 500MWac of renewable energy, enough to power approximately 115,000 homes annually
Contribute to decarbonisation and energy security
Support local communities and businesses
Protect recreational routes and provide new ways for people to enjoy the countryside
Contribute to nature recovery and respond sensitively to the landscape, including Breckland’s natural resources
Respect cultural heritage
Timeline
Map
We are considering the suitability of up to 825 hectares to accommodate environmental mitigation and enhancement, solar PV panels and associated development.
Throughout the consultation period, an Indicative Masterplan will be available to view here.
The Indicative Masterplan provides more detail on the Project, including the areas currently under consideration for solar PV panels, associated infrastructure and mitigation and enhancement measures.
Consultation
Due to the size of the potential energy capacity proposed for the Droves Solar Farm, the Project is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). The planning permission to build and operate the Project requires IGP to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application.
The consultation to support our DCO application is being carried out over two stages.
Stage 1 involved our non-statutory consultation activities. We invited local councillors, technical specialists and community organisations to participate in the early design process and share insights on our proposals during a series of early engagement workshops, held in September and October 2024. Feedback received is helping to shape our more detailed proposals, which we are now presenting as part of our statutory consultation.
A summary of the feedback received can be found in our Workshop Summary Report here.
Stage 2 is when we carry out our formal ‘statutory’ consultation in line with the requirements of the Planning Act 2008. The statutory consultation includes a number of public events that will be held at venues local to the Site.
Materials will be provided at all events for the public to comment on. Comments received will further inform our Project design, before we submit our application to the Planning Inspectorate.
More information regarding the DCO process can be accessed on the Planning Inspectorate website.
Consultation by collaboration
Our seven-week statutory consultation is now live and will run from 21 May until 23:59 on 9 July 2025.
IGP are a community-led developer and are consulting closely with local communities, stakeholders and policy makers throughout the project planning process to understand concerns then use feedback to improve our designs.
Take part in our consultation
Our events
We are holding a series of events as part of our statutory consultation where people can view and discuss our plans for The Droves Solar Farm with members of the project team.
We encourage anyone with an interest in our Project to attend these events. We are also holding webinar events for those unable to attend in person.
The statutory consultation events will be held at the following times and locations:
| Date | Time | Location |
| Saturday 31 May | 11:00 – 17:00 | Sporle Community Centre
78 The Street, Sporle, King’s Lynn, PE32 2DR |
| Monday 2 June | 10:00 – 14:00 | Narborough Community Centre
Chalk Lane, Narborough, King’s Lynn, PE32 1SR |
| Wednesday 11 June | 12:00 – 19:00 | Swaffham Assembly Rooms
1 Market Place Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 7AB |
| Friday 20 June | 10:00 – 14:00 | Westacre Theatre
River Road, West Acre, Norfolk, PE32 1UD |
Online webinars
We are also holding two webinar events for those unable to attend in person. Our webinar sessions will involve a presentation from our project team followed by a live question-and-answer session.
A registration link for each webinar can be found below.
| Date | Time | Location |
| Thursday 5 June | 12:30- 13:30 | Online |
| Wednesday 25 June | 18:30- 19:30 | Online |
Local information point
Visit our local information point, where you can view (but not take away) a hard copy of the PEIR, NTS, and SoCC. You can access digital copies of the documents online using the library’s computer facilities. You can also collect a Consultation Information Booklet and Feedback Form.
| Venue | Materials available to take away | Reference materials |
| Swaffham Library, The Pightle, Swaffham PE37 7DF |
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We recommend contacting the library before visiting to check how they can assist you.
Community collection points
Alternatively, you can visit one of our community collection points, where you can view (but not take away) a hard copy of the NTS and SoCC. You can also collect a Consultation Information Booklet and Feedback Form.
Please note, these locations do not hold a reference copy of the PEIR, and do not have computer access.
| Venue | Materials available to take away | Reference materials |
| Narborough Community Centre Chalk Lane, Narborough, PE32 1SR |
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| West Acre Theatre River Road, West Acre, PE32 1UD |
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We recommend contacting these venues before travelling to confirm their opening times and availability of materials
Further information
Copies of our documents in other formats, such as braille, are available on request.
Printed copies of the following consultation materials are available free of charge, upon request:
- Statement of Community Consultation
- Consultation Information Booklet
- Consultation Feedback Form
- Consultation Newsletter
- Non-Technical Summary
A hard copy of the PEIR can be provided on request. However, the cost of printing and posting the PEIR is £750
Documents
Copies of all the documents relating to The Droves Solar Farm can be found here:
2025
Statutory Consultation Materials
Consultation Event Materials
PEIR
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
Other Materials
2024
December 2024
Workshop Summary Report
October 2024
The Droves Solar Farm Newsletter
October 2024
Droves Solar Farm Codesign Presentation
October 2024
Flood Zones Plan
October 2024
Groundwater Source Protection Zones
October 2024
Drinking Water Protected Area Plan
October 2024
Habitats and Ecological Features
October 2024
Site Plan
October 2024
Socio-economics Plan
October 2024
Location Plan A3
October 2024
Designated Heritage Assets Plan
October 2024
Geophysical Interpretation Results
October 2024
Topography
October 2024
Landscape Character
October 2024
Recreational Access
October 2024
Existing Field Access Points Plan
October 2024
Fig 1 - Designated Heritage Assets Study, 1:30,000 scale
October 2024
Geophysical Survey Interpretation
Have your say
Throughout the development of our proposals, your feedback will be important to help us shape our plans and ensure the Project delivers lasting benefits to the local community.
Please contact us via email or our community relations freephone to be kept up to date on the progress of our plans and join our mailing list.
You can find more details on our Contact Us page
Contact us
You can contact us at
Community Relations Freephone at
0800 0129 154