Plans for 159 solar panels to be installed at a Wheathampstead office block have been submitted to St Albans City & District Council's planning portal.

The panels would be erected at Riverside House, 1 Place Farm, in an effort to "de-carbonise" the site.

An existing solar panel array has been in place on the building's south elevation for 15 months, with plans for the north elevation now submitted.

Herts Advertiser: Plans for solar panels to cover both sides of the office block's roof.Plans for solar panels to cover both sides of the office block's roof. (Image: T&B Contractors / St Albans City & District Council)

A design statement included within the application reads: "The array will be visible to the neighbouring properties that overlook Place Farm, with limited views from the High Street. 

"The new array will generate some 58kW of installed capacity, with an annual estimated generation of 33.674mWh, equivalent to 15tCO2e avoided in one year. 

Herts Advertiser: Riverside House, 1 Place Farm, Wheathampstead.Riverside House, 1 Place Farm, Wheathampstead. (Image: Google Maps)

"Our drive to reduce our carbon footprint has already commenced.

SUGGESTED READING

"In 2022, we completed a PV array to the south elevation consisting of 159no panels generating 59.60kW of installed capacity, which equates to avoiding 23.5tCO2e emission in one year."

The plans can be viewed by using reference 5/2024/0228 on the St Albans City & District Council planning portal.

No comments or objections have yet been made.