Solar panel plan for Peterborough Magistrates’ Court

An application from the Ministry of Justice has been submitted to Peterborough City Council.

It states: “In March 2020 the Chancellor announced a package of financial support to kickstart the economic growth affected by Covid-19 by injecting investment and creating jobs in all parts of the UK.

“The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has been awarded funding to invest in low carbon technologies across its estate to help enable post Covid-19 recovery and reduce its own carbon emissions and maximise the social and economic benefits for the UK when transitioning to net zero carbon by 2050.

“The package of works for the funding to be spent on includes the installation of solar PV panels across their existing estate including HMCTS (Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service) within the MOJ.

“The introduction of solar PV onto the existing estate will contribute to the delivery of sustainable development. The MOJ has set a clear commitment to tackling the climate crisis through reducing energy demand and choosing low carbon solutions.”

The application adds: “The design of the proposed solar PVs is such that they will not result in significant effects on the external appearance of the building and thus impact the amenity of the surrounding area.

“The design is such that the majority of the panels will be located on the roof largely out of public views.

“The proposed panels will be removed as soon as practical once no longer required. The roof will be returned to a state similar to that before the panels were installed, thus ensuring that they do not result in a permanent effect on the court’s roofscape.”

The application will now be considered by the council’s planning department.