The decision over the future of the proposals will lie with Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, who has already declared his intention to push forward with onshore windfarms and solar farms across the country.

Previously, people have raised concerns about solar farms in the region, which include the loss of farmland, implications for food security, worries over the cost and efficiency of the schemes, and the impact on rural landscapes.

Kay Mason Billig, Conservative leader of Norfolk County Council, said the government was “riding roughshod” over local opinions and claimed the county was “under attack” from the solar industry.

The proposed project near Gissing came to light after the energy companies sought permission for a new connection into the national grid, which appeared on the Transmission Entry Capacity (TEC) register.

A spokeswoman for the companies said: “We’ll be in touch with local communities to conduct consultation should exploration result in a planning application.”