Hailsham car park to host 456 solar panels

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 06:08 · Archive

Wealden District Council has approved installation of 456 solar panels at Vicarage Lane car park in Hailsham.

Wealden District Council's Cabinet has approved the installation of 456 solar panels at Vicarage Lane car park in Hailsham as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions and promote sustainability. The solar car ports are expected to generate around 217,000 kWh of renewable electricity each year, with any surplus electricity exported back to the grid.

The project is expected to lower energy costs by an estimated £54,000 annually by offsetting the energy used at the council offices. The panels will be installed above parking spaces in the lower section of the car park, which will be closed in phases during construction to minimise disruption.

Construction is planned to start in November 2026 and take four months to complete, with Leisure Energy, a specialist public sector contractor, carrying out the work. Once operational, a height restriction barrier will be introduced at the entrance to the lower 23-hour section of the car park to prevent access for high-sided vehicles. Councillor Kelvin Williams, lead councillor for public health and asset management, said the project demonstrates how renewable energy can be generated locally while benefiting residents and building a greener community.

How it is being reported

• Hailsham car park to get 456 solar panels generating £54,000 energy savings a yearA car park is set to be transformed into a renewable energy hub under new plans to install hundreds of solar panels.The Argus · 16 Oct, 05:00
• Solar car ports to be installed in Hailsham car parkWealden District Council’s Cabinet has approved the construction of a solar photovoltaic (PV) car port system at a Hailsham car park.Chichester Observer · 14 Oct, 11:21

In this story: Wealden District Council · Hailsham · Vicarage Lane car park · Leisure Energy · Kelvin Williams

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