Giant data centre and solar farm the size of 3,550 football pitches planned near historic British market town

Giant data centre and solar farm the size of 3,550 football pitches planned near historic British market town

Plans for a huge new data centre and solar farm have been earmarked for a historic Norfolk market town. Evolution Power has proposed the new project in King's Lynn, with plans for two separate sites spanning nearly 4,700 acres. The Longmarsh Green Energy project will consist of a 1.3GW solar and battery project alongside a 1GW data centre. The Western Site will be located northeast of Tilney St Lawrence, and the Eastern Site will be built near Fincham and Barton Bendish. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The proposals could attract around £25billion in investment and generate more power than any other site currently planned for the UK. The site is also estimated to create thousands of construction jobs and more than 500 "operational roles". A spokesman for Evolution Power said the sites were "critical for future UK economic growth". The proposed project, if construction is granted, is set to be completed by 2032. A public consultation on the proposed development opened on October 15 and will run until November 26. Evolution Power expects to file a planning application next April, but the scheme’s size means ministers rather than the borough council will decide whether to green light it. North West Norfolk MP James Wild said the plan "could represent further large scale industrialisation of the landscape". He also expressed concern for other projects including RWE’s High Grove development, a 720MW scheme covering around 4,000 acres between Dereham, Watton and Swaffham. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Amputee turned down for blue badge after council worker told him he might be able to run marathons Dog named 'animal of the year' for becoming first in the world to hunt invasive 'sea vomit' creature Farmer facing £350,000 clean-up bill as crime gang dumps 2000 tonnes of rubbish on his field Another development under German energy company RWE, The Droves, boasts another 2,800 acre, 500MW farm near Swaffham. Evolution Power said the proposed site would boost the