PLANS have been submitted to install solar panels in the National Park.

Forestry England submitted a planning application to Northumberland National Park Authority to install 39 solar PV panels on the organisation's office roof and 78 solar PV panels on its workshop roof at Eals Burn, Bellingham.

The property is located at Eals Burn, on the outskirts of Bellingham.

The site comprises two buildings. These are a single-storey ‘L’ shaped building with a pitched and hipped natural slate-covered roof and a double-storey rectangular building with a metal-clad dual-pitched roof.

The L-shaped building is used as a district office by Forestry England with the rectangular building used as a mechanical and engineering workshop also used by Forestry England. 

A design and access statement submitted with the application said: "The proposed works listed will have a positive impact on the buildings by providing a renewable source of energy to the site to supplement the supply from the national grid. The panels will help to reduce the carbon footprint and it is estimated the scheme will save 5,471kg CO2 every year."

For more information, go to the Northumberland National Park Authority's planning application portal and search reference number 24NP0058.