A SUPERMARKET has been told it can press ahead with its plans to cover its roof with solar panels without seeking planning permission.
Sainsbury’s wants to mount the solar panels on the flat roof of its giant supermarket at Llywelyn Road opposite the Cwmbran Shopping Centre.
It asked Torfaen Borough Council’s planning department to issue a certificate of lawful development confirming its plans are in line with policy, and lawful, and as such a full planning application wouldn’t be required.
It had to show the plans met relevant policies and its application confirmed the panels were below the maximum one metre panel height permitted on flat roofs and they would be cited more than one metre from the edge of the roof.
Council planning officer Caroline Pulley confirmed the application met all the relevant criteria and stated, in a report: “The proposal does not require planning permission and as such, a certificate of lawfulness for a proposed development) can be issued.”