Norfolk data centre and solar plan sees hundreds attend meeting

More than 400 people were at a public meeting to share concerns about plans to build what would be one of the UK’s biggest data centres and accompanying solar farms.

The Longmarsh Green Energy (LGE) project would cover 4,695 acres (1,900 hectares) of farmland across two sites south of King’s Lynn in Norfolk.

Dr Martin Little, who leads the Stop Longmarsh Energy (SLE) campaign group, said the proposal would “destroy” farming land.

LGE, which revealed the plans last month, said they “welcome comments during this consultation period”.

The hall at Tilney St Lawrence was full on Monday evening, with locals even following proceedings from the car park.

Farmer James Kitchen grows wheat, barley and oilseed rape on land that would neighbour the data centre.

He said he was “gobsmacked” to hear about the project.

Natural England, a public body which advises the government, classifies the affected area as grade one – meaning it is “excellent quality agricultural land”.

“We’ve got some really good heavy silt land here – it’s very good at producing good quality produce,” said Kitchen.

Despite this year’s drought, he said his yields were still high because of the way the soil in the Fens retains moisture.