Plans to install 344 solar panels on the roof of The Dunes amusements in South Shields have been approved by South Tyneside Council.

The proposals will see the venue benefit from an estimated 154.8 kW of green energy, which will be carefully positioned to reduce glare.

“Council planners approved the solar panel scheme on 31 March, saying the ‘details of the design and external appearance of it are acceptable,’” reported the Chronicle.

“It was noted that there would not be ‘any materially harmful impacts in terms of impact of glare on occupiers of neighbouring land, given that visual context and where those neighbouring occupiers are located within it relative to the proposed PV panels.’”

According to the submission, the 450W panels are not to be placed within one metre of the roof edges and will not protrude more than one metre from the surface of the flat roofs, or 200mm from the surface of the pitched roofs.

“The plans follow a number of recent applications for solar panel schemes at key buildings across South Tyneside as organisations look to slash carbon emissions.”

“Other previous applications in South Tyneside and across the local authority border in Sunderland have included some South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust buildings, as well as industrial buildings and schools.”