Bluewater mall to go greener with major solar panels plan

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Apr 17, 2023

In a major boost to its sustainability credentials, the Landsec-operated Bluewater mall in Kent is to be fitted with 3,200 solar panels to help power the complex.

Planning permission has been granted by Dartford council for the huge installation of panels on flat roofs at the shopping centre in Greenhithe, according to KentOnline.

One of the busiest and largest malls in Europe, its solar panels will generate about 1,158,400 kilowatt hours of renewable energy a year – enough to power about 308 households or 512 electric cars for a year.

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According to planning documents, this will save about 268 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year, the same as planting 12,749 trees.

In its planning application, Landsec had said the panels won’t result in “glint/glare issues and will not result in noise/disturbance”. It added that sustainable development would make a “significant contribution towards renewable energy targets”.

Construction is expected to take five months although it hasn’t yet been confirmed when installation will begin.

In late 2021, Landsec first unveiled plans and £135 million in funding to reduce carbon emissions from its estate by 70% by 2030.