Worthing Church Gets Green Light For Solar Panels

A Worthing church is to be powered by green energy to help tackle climate change.

St Matthew’s Church in Tarring Road will install 20 solar panels on its roof, which will generate enough renewable energy to power both the church and the adjoining church hall. 

It's in line with Adur & Worthing Councils pledge to be carbon neutral for the emissions they control by 2030, and for the area to be net zero carbon by 2045.

St Matthews requested the panels, which were later approved by Worthing Borough Council’s planning committee.

After discussions with the Council’s conservation officer, it was agreed that the panels would be sited lower on the church roof, limiting the visual impact, to strike a balance between energy efficiency and building conservation.

Cllr Jim Deen, the chairman of the committee, said:

“We are delighted to give St Matthew’s the green light for the new solar panels, so that this community building can become part of a more sustainable future.

“The Council has declared a climate emergency, and as such encourages the use of renewable adaptations such as solar panels as part of our ongoing commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change.

“The church is in the Shakespeare Road Conservation Area, but the committee agreed that the need to support action to combat climate change outweighed the limited impact the panels might have on the visual amenity of the area.”