Large solar array for Network Rail approved

Hundreds of solar panels will be installed on the roof of a building in York after planning consent was obtained.

The Network Rail building at Clifton Moor Retail Park is home to the organisation's records archive and contains historical documents related to the UK's railway network.

The plans would see 703 panels installed on the building on Audax Road, and the array would have a capacity of up to about 358 kilowatt-peak, according to the application.

The plans were approved after City of York Council officials were told the height of the building meant the panels would not be visible from public viewpoints.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, planning officers said: "The proposed solar panels would not appear out of keeping with the industrial character of the surrounding areas.

"The panels would not be adjacent to any residential dwellings.

"As such, it is not considered that there would be any loss of amenity as a result of any glare from the panels for neighbours.

"The scheme is thus assessed as being acceptable in both design and external considerations."

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