What is the Longmarsh Green Energy Project?
The proposal combines solar panels, battery storage, a data centre campus and associated electricity infrastructure.
Where is it and what size is it?
Norfolk, East Anglia. The Western Site is near Tilney St Lawrence and Tilney cum Islington. The Eastern Site is near Fincham and Barton Bendish.
It would cover around 4,695 acres, an area larger than 2,600 football pitches
Who is behind this?
Evolution Power Limited is the developer behind Longmarsh Green Energy.
The project applicant is EPL Norfolk Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Evolution Power
Directors are: Giles Frampton, Conor McNally, Peter Bolton, Mikko Kantero & James Spooner
The financial backers are a Finnish company called Korkia
What are the next steps for evolution
Longmarsh requires national planning consent, called a Development Consent Order (DCO), rather than a decision by the local council.
It is at the pre-application stage. Consultation feedback, technical work and environmental assessments will inform the final application.
Once submitted, the Planning Inspectorate will examine the proposals.
Residents, councils and other interested parties can register to participate and submit comments during the examination.
What about the agricultural land?
West Norfolk’s Fenland forms part of a nationally important food-producing landscape, with rich, fertile soils: Natural England reports that 87% of the wider Fens is classified as Grade 1 or Grade 2 agricultural land, highlighting the importance of carefully assessing the proposal’s effects on productive farmland.
What about the wildlife?
The site is home to abundant wildlife including the Islington Heronry which is protected with SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) status by Natural England.
There are several other populations of muntjac, deer, hares, owls, swans, birds of prey & woodland birds, such as the great spotted woodpecker. It is also on the flight path of migrating pink footed geese.
There are also concerns that panels could resemble water & create a ‘lake-effect’ & a risk of birds diving down from height, thinking the solar panels, are in fact an expanse of water.
What about the villagers?
These villages are home to people who value the surrounding countryside, peace and rural way of life.
The scale of the proposal is causing anxiety in the community, including concerns about noise, traffic, potential health risks, wildlife and changes to the landscape.
Residents are also concerned about the effect on house prices and their ability to sell their homes.
What about the health impacts?
There is documented evidence of health risks associated with some of the exposures and hazards arising from data centres, battery storage facilities and electricity transmission infrastructure.
For data centres, concerns include persistent noise from cooling equipment and potential air pollution from backup generators. The World Health Organization links excessive, continuous environmental noise with sleep disturbance, stress and adverse cardiovascular effects.
Who decides if this goes ahead?
This is a NATIONAL, government decision, not a local council decision. The project would require a Development Consent Order (DCO).
The Planning Inspectorate examines the application and makes a recommendation and the Secretary of State makes the final decision.
Borough and county councils can submit evidence and objections.
The Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime allows the Secretary of State to bypass traditional Local Planning Authorities for applications deemed of vital “national significance”.
Who owns the land?
The land of the Eastern proposal is owned entirely by J. Goodley & Sons Limited.
The Western site land is owned by another single owner we believe: Maurice Mason Limited
We do not want the land owners to be personally targetted in any way and are being extremely careful on matters around this.
What about military aviation?
The proposal could have implications for aviation safety and defence operations at nearby RAF Marham, depending on its location, scale and panel orientation.
Guidance published by the Civil Aviation Authority identifies reflected sunlight from solar panels-known as glint and glare-as a potential concern for pilots.
Radar interference is another potential concern. Solar installations can, depending on their location and size, deflect radar signals, create signal reflection, false radar plots and interference as possible consequences of development.
In addition, the Government has announced that 12 F-35A aircraft will be based at RAF Marham and made available for NATO’s nuclear mission, with the MOD expecting the next batch of F-35 aircraft from the early 2030s. Longmarsh anticipates that its Eastern Site near Barton Bendish and Fincham, together with its associated electricity connections, could be operational by 2032. Assessment of the project therefore needs to consider Marham’s planned future operations alongside its current activities. The F-35A announcement does not establish that nuclear weapons are stored at Marham or automatically prevent development nearby.
In its response to the separate Droves Solar Farm proposal, the MOD identified effects on Marham’s Precision Approach Radar that were incompatible with its safeguarding requirements in the scheme’s then-proposed form. It also raised glint and glare, electrical interference, birdstrike and temporary construction equipment. Longmarsh requires its own assessment, and its developer says it will assess potential radar and glint and glare effects at RAF Marham. No published MOD position on the Longmarsh design has been identified in the information reviewed.
Any effect on the safe use of RAF Marham’s approach routes would therefore be a serious aviation and defence safeguarding matter.
What is the government doing about data centre development?
The government published its Draft National Policy Statement for Data Centres on 28 October 2026.
Consultation closes at 11.59pm on 8 January 2027. It concerns data centres proceeding through the English NSIP/DCO system; it remains a draft, not a decision on Longmarsh.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-national-policy-statement-for-data-centres
Contributions are welcome from both organisations and individuals.
What is the position of local MPs on this?
Our understanding is that both Terry Jermy & James Wild are opposed to the proposals.
Calendar
Note: this is Evolution Power’s anticipated timetable, subject to change
Current community consultation opened 15 October 2026
Deadline for consultation responses 26 November 2026, 11:59pm
Pre-application consultation and engagement October 2026–April 2027
Planned submission of the Development Consent Order application April 2027
Anticipated examination by the Planning Inspectorate September 2027–March 2028
Anticipated Secretary of State decision July–September 2028
Construction expected to start, if approved 2029 Sites and connecting cable routes expected to be operational By 2032
What information has been released so far?
Planning Inspectorate have released a series of documents here
Evolution Power’s Project website
Our Petition
Our petition has gathered incredible momentum, showing the strength of feeling from across the UK on this matter.
Social Media
Using the Stop Longmarsh tag, we have Facebook, Instagram @stoplongmarsh, YouTube
What do we stand for?
• Progress in the right places. We support renewable energy and technological innovation. Our concern is the scale, location and impact of this proposal.
• Protecting productive farmland. We value the fertile agricultural land that supports farming livelihoods and food production.
• Protecting wildlife. Local habitats, protected sites and the birds and animals that depend on them deserve proper consideration.
• Respecting rural communities. People’s homes, health, peace and enjoyment of the countryside must carry real weight in decisions.
• Clear information and honest answers. Residents should be able to understand what is proposed, its potential effects and what remains uncertain.
• A meaningful local voice. Consultation should give communities a genuine opportunity to influence decisions that will affect them for generations.
• Responsible choices about location and scale. We believe Longmarsh, as proposed, is too large and too intrusive for this location. Alternatives and the combined effects of nearby developments must be properly considered.
• A respectful, factual campaign. We are local people bringing community knowledge, asking questions and seeking expert scrutiny. We do not claim to have all the answers, but our concerns deserve to be heard.
This is the mailing card that was sent to local residents.
