A two-day public hearing will begin today to establish whether an energy firm can push ahead with a controversial planned substation development at Little Dunham.
Warwick Energy has chosen the village, near Swaffham, as its preferred site to connect electricity from the planned �1.3m Dudgeon wind farm to the National Grid.
But its application was turned down by Breckland Council's development control committee in October, following widespread opposition from the local community.
Warwick Energy's appeal against that decision will be heard at the hearing, which begins at 9am today at Great Dunham village hall.
Council officers, opponents and energy firm representatives will speak at the hearing, with the final decision resting with a government-appointed planning inspector.
The substation is proposed for an open field off Necton Road and could include four converter buildings measuring 70m long by 25m wide and 15m high.
Objectors believe the scale of the planned development would blight its rural surroundings, while Warwick Energy maintains that the site is the best location for vital green energy infrastructure to be built.
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