ANOTHER solar farm is to be erected near South Marston after permission was granted for more than 9,000 panels across 15,000sqm on Monday.

Green space will not be affected as B&Q has arranged for the 2.5MW solar field to be attached to the roof of its distribution centre in Highworth Road.

International solar panel firm Solarcentury has been contracted by the DIY specialist to install the renewable energy resource which will significantly contribute to the running costs of the building.

The application was first submitted to Swindon Borough Council as recently as September 4, but Richard Bell, head of planning, approved it on Monday.

There were no objections from Highways England, Stratton St Margaret Parish Council or South Marston Parish Council to the application.

The application was made by Kingfisher Scottish Limited Partnership on behalf of B&Q.

In the planning documents for the application, a statement said: “Planning permission for a 2.462MW solar photovoltaic array is being sought to enable the applicants to reduce their carbon emissions and energy bills for the site and to increase their self-sufficiency in terms of electricity production.

“The building is a recently built large distribution centre and the solar PV will significantly contribute to the running costs of the building.

“The installation of the PV on this building would be a prime example of a suitably located large scale solar PV array in the area.

“The PV panels will not be visible from the ground and the roof is of sound and suitable construction to house the PV panels for the lifetime of the system.

“The load of the PV system on the roof will be structurally signed off by an engineer.“The installed capacity will help to contribute towards both national and regional targets for renewable energy generation and carbon reduction.”

The works include the installation of 9,120 solar panels on the roof of the centre.

There are expected to be between 25 and 30 extra deliveries over a four-week period when the panels are installed, with between 25 and 30 contractors also expected in total.

The installation will require temporary scaffolding and edge protection to be erected on site so as to ensure the safe installation of panels by the chosen contractor.

Crane lifts will be required to lift panels onto the roof of the building.

Cable runs will be made internally where possible to the inverter location. It is likely inverters will be mounted on the external wall of the building or in a suitable internal location.

There is no timescale in place for when the work might take place, but planning permission expires in three years.