Orbital Retail Park in Swindon has received approval from Swindon Borough Council to install 5,000 solar panels on its buildings. This initiative aims to offer a “commercially viable” solution to combat climate change.

The council stated that the solar panels are designed to “minimise the effect on the appearance of the building.” The energy generated will be purchased by the park’s tenants, with any surplus being exported to the National Grid.

Orbital Retail Park Ltd emphasised the importance of integrating renewable energy into local communities, particularly given the current climate crisis. They highlighted that renewable energy technologies, such as Solar PV, have a significantly lower environmental impact compared to conventional energy sources. Solar PV, specifically, offers a non-intrusive and commercially viable solution.

It is noted that the Asda supermarket and the library on the site are not included in this application as they are not owned by Orbital Retail Park Ltd. However, the Asda supermarket already has a moderate number of solar panels on its roof.

The council’s report states that the solar panels have been sited and designed to minimise their impact on the building’s appearance, considering the size and scale of the building and the line of sight from surrounding areas.