Necton Greener Grid Park granted planning permission

Proposals for a 'Greener Grid Park' in Necton have been granted permission for development by Breckland Council.

The plans were unveiled last year with the project designed to support the increasing amounts of renewable energy being fed into the National Grid, in the wake of major schemes like RWE's offshore windfarms. 

The site is located next to the Necton substation, to the south of the A47, and council planning officers conceded that the development would have a significant impact on the landscape of the area.

Fraser Bateman, a Necton parish councillor, said: "While we accept that this project will serve a necessary function in making the National Grid more reliant and efficient, we are not satisfied with the site chosen or the visual impact of this industrial scale development in a rural location. This is far from ideal."

The park will be located next to Necton substation (Image: Google)

The Greener Grid Park, proposed by Norwegian company Statkraft, is aimed at stabilising the grid and providing reliability of power supply in case of disruptions to the electricity system.

Currently, at times of low wind activity, fossil fuel plants are fired up. The park will instead use synchronous compensators - large electrical machines with flywheels - to deliver this stability. 

READ MORE: Aerial photographs show huge electrical substation taking shape next to the A47

Necton substation (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Sacha Lloyd Rutherford, project manager, said: "This development will help to keep the lights on and secure our greener energy supply.

"It will support the fight against climate change, solve a lasting issue with our grid network and reduce energy bills. 

"Projects like this will allow more wind and solar to be built and connected."

Construction of the park will begin later this year and is expected to take around 18 months.