Solar power to make Halifax supermarket 'greener'

That paves the way for the supermarket giant to install a 841.8kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system – which will use 1,830 panel modules – at the Wade Street store in Halifax town centre.

The company says the proposals will help the environment, a reduction of around 153 tonnes of CO2e – carbon dioxide equivalent carbon – annually, say agents for the application, Ineco Energy Ltd.

According the the Government, a prior approval application is what a developer must submit to the local planning authority in a small number of cases where permitted development rights for the planned work exist, but the council still has to sign off specified details before the work can lawfully proceed.

The approval is not needed in this case, say Calderdale planning officers.

Characteristics of the existing building nor its surroundings will not be unacceptably harmed because the area is “utilitarian in its appearance”, set within a commercial area, say the agents.

As it is a tall building it will not be visible from the street, with the panels set well up from the eaves.

Although they will be visible from some heights they will not be prominently visible from public areas because the proposed siting and positioning within the roof plane will be shielded from view as a result of the the building’s height and position.

“The solar panels won’t directly face forward to neighbouring properties and there is a degree of separation between the host building and the neighbouring properties,” say the agents.

Planning officers agreed, saying they are satisfied there will be no adverse impacts on neighbours, the proposals will not cause excessive glare – due to its position amongst nearby buildings and anti-reflective properties of the units – and the design and external appearance is acceptable.

As such the prior approval of the council, as local planning authority, is not required, they concluded.