176, Sainsbury's, George Lane, London, E18 1AY Data via plota.co.uk

1697/26 - Prior Approval Determination Approved

Proposal

Installation of 348 photovoltaic solar panels to the flat roof using a ballast mounted system including associated mounting equipment. (Summary). Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
29 Jun 2026
✓
Validated
1 Jul 2026
✓
Consultation
10 Jul 2026
✓
Approved
31 Jul 2026

Approved on 31 Jul 2026 · Delegated C/Signed B. McCay · Last checked 6 Aug 2026

Site constraints 6

Air quality management area: Redbridge AQMA
The council has declared the area as failing an air quality objective.
Schemes that add traffic, parking or combustion plant are assessed against the area's action plan and may need an air quality assessment.
Council record ↗
Town centre: South Woodford
A designated centre in the London Plan.
Shops, services and active frontages are protected in centres, and main town centre uses are steered here first.
Also on the record
Conservation area 48 m away: George Lane; 3 listed buildings within 150 m; Inside the Redbridge built-up area; Public transport access: PTAL 3 (moderate), TfL 2023, for the 100 m square.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 2 November 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Transport for London (public transport access levels, Powered by TfL Open Data, OGL v3.0, contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2025) and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

Building

Floor area5,428 m² (58,426 sq ft)
Energy ratingC (asset rating 65)
UseRetail/Financial and Professional Services
HeatingHeating and Mechanical Ventilation

From the energy performance certificate lodged in June 2024, the latest held for this property. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

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Important details

Council
Redbridge
Application type
Prior Approval Determination
Postcode
E18 1AY
Received
29 Jun 2026
Validated
1 Jul 2026
Ward
South Woodford
Case officer
Show
Target decision
23 Aug 2026
Decision
Prior Approval Required - Granted
Decision date
31 Jul 2026
Decision level
Delegated C/Signed B. McCay
Applicant
Show
Agent
Ineco Energy Ltd

How this decision compares

Decided in 30 days from validation, about the council's usual 27 days. Approved, as 82% of prior approvals here are.

99%decided within 8 weeks
82%approved
505decided in the last year

Plota live figures for prior approvals decided by Redbridge in the last twelve months, from validation. Redbridge decision record →

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15002034
Comments by
21 Jul 2026
Site or press notice
1 Jul 2026
Statutory expiry
30 Jul 2026
Redbridge
Planning Authority Score
4.5/10
Below average
#174 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

Redbridge ranks #129 out of 296 councils for householder decision speed. Redbridge is also one of the strictest councils - it refuses more householder applications than almost any other, with only 82% approved vs 90% nationally.

One of the strictest councils
only 82% approved vs 90% nationally
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Redbridge decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
72%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #292 of 296
82%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #267 of 296
69%
Decided in 8 weeks
Above avg (63%) #129 of 296
34%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #90 of 296
57%
Minor dwellings approved
152 decided (1-9 homes)
83%
Major dwellings approved
12 decided (10+ homes)
32%
Change of use approved
192 decided
1,673
Total decisions
461 refused in the year to March 2026

Energy performance: Energy performance certificates from the Energy Performance of Buildings Register, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright 2026.