Plans to cover hospital car park with solar panels approved

A plan to cover the Grange University Hospital’s car park in solar panels has been approved, despite questions over the project’s value for money.

The proposal to put up steel-framed “solar car ports” to cover parking bays in the 300-capacity main car park, in Cwmbran, has been backed by Torfaen councillors.

However, Natasha Asghar, Senedd Member for South Wales East, has raised concerns over the cost of the project.

The Conservative also said the panels would be purchased from JA Solar, a Chinese company linked to forced labour in the Xinjiang region, according to an investigation by Irish broadcaster RTÉ. 

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which runs the hospital, said information provided via a Freedom of Information request was based on examples given in a business case – but procurement will be the responsibility of the contractor, once technical specifications have been approved, and it has had assurance it will comply with the modern slavery policy. 

Ms Ashgar has also disputed the health board’s calculation the cost of the scheme will be replayed over 19 years and said, based on electricity costs, she believed payback would be more than 24 years. 

The car park, to the south of the main hospital building, is softened by shrubs and trees and a connected network of zebra crossings provides a route for pedestrians from the listed Llanfrechfa Grange Walled Garden to the main hospital building. 

Torfaen planning officer Caroline Pulley said: “The proposal would enable the hospital to generate its own electricity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, aligning with the aims of national planning policy on sustainability.

“On balance, taking these factors into account, the visual impact of the proposed solar-panel car ports is now considered acceptable.” 

In response to questions raised by the council’s highways department, it was agreed to remove the car ports intended to cover disabled parking bays – while it was accepted phased-construction will allow for the acceptable temporary loss of parking spaces. 

A transformer, to feed the energy generated into the hospital’s supply, to the south of the car park will be screened by landscaping.