Solar panels approved for roof of charity base at heart of Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site
A charity that looks after land the size of 250 football pitches at the heart of a World Heritage Site in Shropshire has been given permission to put 24 solar panels on the roof of is HQ.
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The Severn Gorge Countryside Trust has been told that the panels could provide it with 73 per cent of its annual electricity consumption at the base in Darby Road, Coalbrookdale in the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage site.
Telford & Wrekin Council planners have this week confirmed that an application to replace the existing roof with panels has been approved.
Council planners have given the trust three years to begin the development and told it that if it ceases to generate electricity for a continuous period of 12 months they should submit a decommissioning plan.
Background documents with the planning application record that Shropshire Renewables was asked to provide a design for the trust.
The company said it expects the system to generate 9,694 kWh of electricity every year, and save 2,007 kg CO2 of carbon.
“Based on our model we expect you to self consume 4,026 kWh of the 9,694 kWh of electricity the system should generate – providing 73 per cent of the annual electricity consumption of 5,500 kWh in the property,” the company reported.
Severn Gorge Countryside Trust is a registered charity that was set up in 1991.
It describes itself as the main land manager of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, looking after 700 acres (or 250 football pitches) of land for local people, visitors, and wildlife to enjoy.
Telford & Wrekin Council has recently announced a set of planning surgeries to help residents in the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site to navigate an area where they – unlike other areas of the borough – do not have permitted development rights.
This means that even minor changes such as installing new windows, doors, or boundary walls require planning consent.
The Ironbridge Gorge planning surgeries will take place on the following dates:
Wednesday April 2, 2025 from 10am – 1pm – Madeley Library.
Wednesday June 11, 2025 from 10am – 1pm – Maws Craft Centre, Jackfield
Wednesday August 13, 2025 from 10am – 1pm – Madeley Library
Wednesday 8 October 2025 from 10am – 1pm – Maws Craft Centre, Jackfield
Wednesday 14 January 2026 from 10am – 1pm – Madeley Library
