Bid submitted to build renewable energy plant at former Norfolk airfield

A proposal has been submitted for a new renewable energy facility on part of the former RAF Oulton site near Aylsham in England.
The plan, put forward by Bluestone Biogas, would see an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant built on agricultural land off The Street. The facility would convert crops such as maize into renewable gas and fertiliser.
The developer says the feedstock would be sourced from farms within a 15-mile radius of the site, depending on crop rotations and seasonal availability.
The process would break down plant material to produce methane-rich biogas that can be injected into the gas network. A by-product of the process would be biofertiliser intended to support future crop growth.
Community concerns and traffic plans
During a public consultation, residents raised concerns about potential traffic increases.
At peak harvest periods in July, the site could generate around 109 HGV movements per day, falling to roughly 28 daily trips outside the harvest season.
Vehicle movements would generally be restricted to operating hours between 7am and 7pm, with extended evening access during harvest periods.
The developer had considered creating a new southern access route linking the site to the B1149 road to avoid traffic using The Street, but local authority advice preferred continued use of the existing route.
Both Norfolk County Council and Broadland District Council assessed the proposal, with planning officers favouring traffic management restrictions rather than new road construction.
Odour concerns were also raised, but Bluestone Biogas said the plant would not process waste materials, meaning raw feedstocks would produce little or no smell. Any biofertiliser produced would be stored in sealed, covered containers before transport off site.