Up to 40 wind turbines in West Norfolk could power 150,000 homes
Plans for new onshore wind farm face controversy and community concerns
A German energy firm is seeking to build up to 40 wind turbines from King’s Lynn to Downham Market, in a scheme that could power almost 150,000 homes.
Caeli has signed up farmers and landowners across a stretch of land running along the west bank of the Great Ouse for the project, dubbed Eaubrink.
The turbines, likely to stand more than 80m tall, would be spread across 8,400 acres – roughly the size of 4,760 football pitches – and generate up to 192 MW.
The firm is now marketing the site, part of which is in Cambridgeshire, to developers through a competitive tender process.
Hans-Georg von Lewinski, Caeli UK’s chief executive, called it “a significant opportunity” and said turbines would leave a relatively small footprint, meaning farming could continue around them.
He conceded such schemes are “very controversial” and said developers would need to “take people along” – suggesting community benefit funds for affected areas.
Not everyone is convinced, however.
North West Norfolk MP James Wild, roughly half of whose constituency falls within the proposed site, said he only learned of the plans when contacted by the BBC.
He raised concerns over the visual impact on the flat fenland landscape, the risk to rare birds, and potential interference with low-level flight training out of nearby RAF Marham.
“We need energy generation but I think people locally feel they’re taking more than their fair share,” Mr Wild said, pointing to existing pressure from solar farms, pylons, and battery storage schemes already earmarked for the county.
Onshore wind remains rare in Norfolk.
The six-turbine Jacks Lane Wind Farm near Fakenham is currently the county’s largest, powering around 10,000 homes.
Offshore is a different story – Hornsea 3, a 231-turbine scheme 74 miles off the coast, is under construction and expected to eventually power three million homes.
The scarcity of onshore projects traces back to a decision in 2015, when then prime minister David Cameron effectively banned new onshore wind development in England.
Rules were loosened under Rishi Sunak, and Labour has since pledged to double onshore wind capacity by 2030.
Given its scale, Eaubrink could be classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project – meaning the final planning decision would rest with government ministers rather than local councils.
Mr von Lewinski said that even with permission granted, turbines are unlikely to be spinning for at least five years.
The plans for the turbines come as Norfolk faces a wave of major energy infrastructure proposals.
This includes the East Pye Solar Farm, a roughly 2,700-acre scheme planned for land around Long Stratton and the Droves Solar Farm, a project on land between Swaffham and Castle Acre.
These plans have prompted concern among locals and politicians that the county is shouldering a disproportionate share of the UK’s net zero infrastructure.