Major update on plans to cover South Shields school roof with 717 solar panels
Plans to install more than 700 solar panels at a South Shields secondary school site have been given the green light.
South Tyneside Council’s planning department has approved an application for Mortimer Community College off Reading Road in the West Park ward.
The school lodged a planning bid earlier this year (2025) seeking permission for “around 717 solar photovoltaic panels on the pitched and flat roofs, with a total generation capacity of about 325kWp.”
A design and access statement submitted on behalf of the school at the time noted the development would “help the school in its ambition to maximise on the potential of on-site for zero-carbon electricity generation as part of its wider decarbonisation strategy”.
It was also noted that the development would not have any “detrimental impact on neighbouring land users” and would have a “positive impact on the character of the building.”
After considering the planning application, South Tyneside Council’s planning department approved it on November 24, 2025.
Council planners, in a decision report, noted the “solar panels would be situated on the roof of the property which is set within a mainly residential area”.
However, it was noted that the site was “not highly visible from a public vantage point” and that the “installation of solar panels is considered to be appropriate in terms of visual amenity” and “in terms of the scale of the building” and the “design and external appearance” of the solar panels.
The council decision report adds: “The solar panels will be situated within approximately 20 metres from the nearest residential properties which are located on Mortimer Road to the east.
“Given the angle of the solar panels at this point, very minimal amounts of light / glare reflected by the solar panels is considered to reach these residential properties.
“The distances to other neighbours including at Reading Road 20 metres to the west is also considered acceptable given the pitched roof of the solar panels at this closest point.
“Additionally the submitted details indicate the solar panels would be anti-glare in design.
“It is therefore considered there would be no harm to neighbours as a result of the proposed development.”
For more information on the plan and council decision, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and search reference: 250636
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