Solar panels at Bexhill Leisure Pool Ravenside Retail & Leisure Park, Bexhill-on-Sea

“This application seeks to determine if 'Prior Approval' is required for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on the eastern and southern roofslope of the pool building.”

“Bexhill Leisure Pool is located in the south-east corner of Ravenside Retail and Leisure Park, adjacent to Hastings Road, a small carpark and an open field to the north-east of the building, and bound by a trade access, the railway track and the beach to its south.”

“RR/2000/2798/P Outline: Redevelopment to provide new retail warehouse and A3 unit, with landscaping, new access arrangements and rearrangement of part of existing car park area at Ravenside Retail and Leisure Park.”

“RR/2003/3038/P Redevelopment of existing premises to provide new retail warehouse and A3 unit together with landscaping, new access arrangements and rearrangement of part of existing car park area at Ravenside Retail and Leisure Park pursuant to outline consent RR/2000/2798/P.”

“RR/2026/0183/NPV as to the design or external appearance of the development, in particular the impact of glare on occupiers of neighbouring land.”

“Overall, owing to the modern character of the buildings, and having regard to the commercial and urban character of the wider locality, the design and appearance of the solar panels is considered acceptable. Furthermore, the proposal does not give rise to any significant issues in terms of glare. The recommendation therefore is: Prior Approval is not Required.”

“APPRAISAL 7.1 The installation of solar panels is permitted development under Schedule 2, Part 14, Class J of the GPDO, subject to it meeting the prescribed criteria for installation. As per the submission, the proposed development would comply with the prescribed criteria for permitted development i.e.”

“Moreover, as there are no residential properties neighbouring the site, and with the proposed solar panels facing the open green to the east, and the railway tracks and beach to the south, the development is not considered to give rise to significant glare impacts.”

“No other formal consultation is required by the legislation.”

“This application was presented to the Planning Committee as it was a Rother District Council application located on Council-owned land.”

“The Planning Committee was supportive of the Planning Officer’s recommendation, subject to the reason as outlined below.”

“Councillor Mrs Cook moved the motion that PRIOR APPROVAL WAS NOT REQUIRED subject to the reason as outlined below and this was seconded by Councillor McLaren. The motion was declared CARRIED (9 for / unanimous).”

“As per Class J of Part 14, Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended), the design and appearance of the proposed solar panels, located on a modern leisure facility within a business park and presenting no significant glare impacts, is considered acceptable. Prior approval is therefore not required, and the proposal would constitute permitted development.”

“This decision relates to the following plans and documents: Site Location and Block Plan: 5164-100, dated February 2026 Proposed-Roof-Plan: 5164-330, dated February 2026 Proposed Elevations – North and South, 5164-340, dated February 2026 Proposed Elevations – East and West: 5164-341, dated February 2026 A&M Covering Letter: Ref.5164, Issue 1, dated 11 February 2026”

“The PV solar panels shall be removed as soon as reasonably practicable when no longer needed, as per the requirements set out in Class J.4 (1) (b) of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended).”