Flat-roof solar panels at Frogmore Leisure Centre, Yateley
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Hart Development Management Committee on 22 Apr 2026.
What was proposed
Prior approval was sought for a ballasted flat-roof photovoltaic system across two flat roof areas of the leisure centre.
“Application Reference: 26/00437/GPDSND Address: Frogmore Leisure Centre, Potley Hill Road, Yateley, Hampshire, GU46 6AG Description of Proposal: Application for prior approval for the installation of a ballasted flat-roof photovoltaic (PV) system across two flat roof areas Applicant: [the applicant] for comments: 21.04.2026 Expiry date: 30.04.2026 Recommendation: Grant Prior Approval…”
“Proposal The proposal is an application for prior approval for the installation of a ballasted flat- roof photovoltaic (PV) system across two flat roof areas of Frogmore Leisure Centre.”
Officer report
The site
The leisure centre forms part of a 1970s campus with modernist flat-roofed buildings, open land and playing fields.
“Description of the site The proposal relates to Frogmore Leisure Centre in Yateley which forms part of a campus of buildings dating from the 1970s which includes Frogmore Community College and Potley Hill Primary School. The buildings are predominately modernist flat-roofed buildings and are set within open land and playing fields.”
Officer report
Planning history
There was no relevant planning history.
“Relevant planning history None of relevance.”
Officer report
The officers’ recommendation
Officers recommended granting prior approval because the proposal complied with Class J criteria and had an acceptable design and external appearance.
“Considering the points discussed above, the proposed solar PV equipment is considered to comply with the technical criteria of Class J and is considered to have an acceptable impact in terms of design and external appearance, including with regard to the potential glare impacts on occupiers of neighbouring land. It is therefore recommended that Prior Approval is required and granted.”
Officer report
Design and glare
The panels were considered consistent with the building, unobtrusive from ground level and unlikely to cause harmful glare to neighbouring occupiers.
“The proposed solar PV equipment would be located on the flat roof of Frogmore Leisure Centre, which dates from the 1970s and has a modernist form and character. The solar PV equipment is not considered an unusual or incongruous feature on a modern institutional building and are consistent with its modern character. Given the height of the building and the location of the solar PV equipment on flat roofs, the equipment would not be prominent in views from ground level.”
“There are no residential neighbours in close proximity to the proposal site however there are residential neighbours in the wider area. Given the siting of the proposed solar panels on flat roofs and the separation distances to surrounding neighbours, the proposal is not considered to result in a detrimental impact on occupiers of neighbouring land in terms of glare.”
Officer report
The committee vote
The recommendation was proposed and seconded, and the committee unanimously voted to approve it.
“The recommendation was proposed by Cllr Oliver (Chair) and seconded by Cllr Worlock. In a show of hands, the Committee voted unanimously to approve the recommendation.”
Minutes
The decision
The committee granted prior approval for the photovoltaic system across the two flat roof areas.
“The Committee agreed to grant prior approval for the installation of a ballasted flat-roof photovoltaic system across two flat roof areas of Frogmore Leisure Centre, Potley Hill Road, Yateley GU46 6AG.”
Minutes
Sources
- Hart Development Management Committee minutes, 22 April 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Hart's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Hart
- Date
- Wednesday 22 April 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Hart committee decisions →
This committee's year
17 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 2 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.