Southampton high-rise car parks could get solar panels

It follows a similar scheme in Portsmouth

Author: Jason Lewis, Local Democracy ReporterPublished 10th Dec 2024

Solar panels could be installed on high-rise car parks in Southampton.

Investigatory work is progressing as part of the City Council’s strategic partnership with Portsmouth City Council’s energy team.

Last year, Portsmouth gave the green light to a scheme to install more than 7,000 solar panels on a business park site.

The project at Lakeside North Harbour includes roof-mount panels on buildings, as well as creating canopies above existing surface car parking.

Members of Southampton City Council have unanimously supported a cross-party Labour-Liberal Democrat motion pledging a focus on solar power developments.

The Labour-run local authority has decided to continue work on investigating the use of high-rise car parks, to assess the financial costs, benefits and feasibility of any investments.

It will also explore the possibility of putting more electric vehicle (EV) charging points in car parks and on-street locations.

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Richard Blackman, who proposed the motion, said car parks were an “obvious” place to consider when supporting a transition to green energy.

He said: “I would encourage the Labour administration to be bold and ambitious when it comes to solar panels and wider environmental issues.”

Labour cabinet member for environment and transport Cllr Eamonn Keogh said two high-rise car parks were already under consideration.

He said car parks had been subject to vandalism and it would be crucial that any installation could be protected.

Cllr Keogh added that there also needed to be a structural assessment to ensure buildings were able to take solar panels.

“We have got to get the governance right,” Cllr Keogh said. “We have got to get the delivery model right. We have got to get the procurement procedure in place. We are ambitious but these projects are challenging.

“The project that Portsmouth has entered into is costing them as a council £30million that they have financed through a 20-year Public Works Loan Board loan, so that tells you that these investments are not cheap.

“It is unfortunate we are not quite in that same financial position that Portsmouth is. We need to get to a financially stable place and then we can invest.”

Cllr Keogh said the partnership was already helping to deliver solar panels at three sites – SeaCity Museum, One Guildhall Square and the Quays swimming pool complex. Three schools in the city are also under consideration.

Conservative group leader Cllr Peter Baillie said it was important to learn from history.

He said the local authority looked at putting solar panels in car parks and schools 12 years ago, but little progress had been made.

Addressing Cllr Keogh, Cllr Baillie said: “You came across as there being not quite the urgency I thought you would put into this.

“If we’re going to do it and if we’re really going to make a difference, there has to be quite a substantial amount being done rather than just the odd token bit and you can tick a box because you did a few.”

Cabinet member for green city and net zero Cllr John Savage said it was “very complicated business” which had to be looked at “very carefully”.

Liberal Democrat councillor Thomas Gravatt said: “Building solar panels over our car parks in the city is something that will both help us to fight against climate change, which is absolutely essential, but it will also help us to generate sustainable incoming for the city.”

Cllr Keogh said the council was also pressing ahead with plans to install more than 500 on-street EV charging points across the city.

An annual report will be presented to the overview and scrutiny management committee to review the progress being made on solar panel schemes.

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