Weymouth College to install more than 1,000 solar panels

The system will be capable of producing 467kw of power.

Dorset Council has been told that the college wants to add the panels to five shallow pitch roofs, either side of Cranford Avenue, where there are no neighbours which would be affected.

The buildings where the panels are to be installed are the Purbeck building, one of the largest on the campus; the adjoining Worbarrow building and the Chesil, Fleet and Lulworth buildings which are clustered together.

Wessex ECOEnergy from Poundbury who have been appointed by Dorset Community Energy and the College to carry out the work say that between them the five buildings will have 1,143 panels which will be black with silver frames with a satin finish to the glass to reduce glare.

Weymouth College solar panels - Purbeck building

Dorset Council say full planning consent is not required for the work: “The impact of the design or external appearance of the development in particular the glare on occupiers of neighbouring land outside of the college campus is considered to be negligible. In this case the panels are proposed on the shallow roofs of the buildings and there are no immediate neighbours that would be affected. The proposal which is within the complex of the college is not considered to be harmful to the setting of the adjacent conservation area.”

There were no objections when the scheme was advertised.