PLANS have been lodged to install hundreds of solar panels on prominent buildings in Chester – including the magistrates court and Northgate Arena.
Cheshire West and Chester Council has submitted a proposal for 408 roof-mounted panels at the Northgate Arena, 103 on the rear roof slopes of the Grosvenor Museum and 156 at Christleton Sports Centre.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is also seeking to erect solar panels on the flat roof areas of Chester Magistrates Court.
The aim of the proposals is to reduce carbon emissions and forms part of a national programme – for which grant funding is available – to assist the Government in achieving its 2050 net zero target.
The planning application for 408 solar panels over two separate flat roof areas of the Northgate Arena says "the proposed PV arrays are not visible from any other local buildings".
In a public sector decarbonisation scheme grant application report, put together on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council by Pearson Surveyors, it states: "The building would benefit both operationally and commercially whilst massively reducing its carbon impact on the environment.
How the solar panels would look on top of Chester Magistrates Court (pic: MoJ planning application)
The Grosvenor Museum planning application for 103 panels and six air source heat pumps states that "the museum wishes to reduce its future energy bills and its carbon footprint".
It adds: "The roof slopes are almost entirely concealed at the gables with existing parapet walls meaning that there are very few views of the roof slopes proposed for the solar panels – those which have been identified are partial and limited in extent.
"The air source heat pumps will be fixed to the rear elevation brickwork on a metal channel system."
The proposal for Christleton Sport Centre on Village Road, Christleton, is to install 156 panels which would all be fixed to one single pitched roof area.
The MoJ planning application for a roof mounted Photovoltaic solar farm at Chester Magistrates Court, submitted on its behalf by AHR Building Consultancy Ltd, states: "It is anticipated that the court will use all of the power generated.
"However the option remains for the install to be connected to the national grid.
"The install is believed to be discreet with no visual impact on the building and surrounding streets and properties."
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