Plans to build new solar-powered car park in Wolverhampton wins approval
Plans to build a new solar-powered car park around half a mile from Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton have been approved.
The plans for the site next to the Wickes store off Stafford Road, around half a mile from Wolverhampton Wanderers home ground Molineux, would see the land converted into a 205-bay car park.
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The unmarked land has already been used as an informal car park for worshippers at the nearby Jamia Masjid Aqsa mosque and on matchdays for Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters.
The plans also include 82 electric vehicle charging points.
As many as 1,400 solar panels would be installed on carports to power the car park and stored to help power the local area.
A total of 1,200 plants have also been included to boost biodiversity.
Approving the application, the council’s planners said: “The [council] considers that the proposed development—comprising the formalisation and enhancement of the existing car park with marked bays, carports, solar arrays, EV charging infrastructure, sustainable drainage measures and associated works—is acceptable in principle and in detail.
“The scheme will improve the functionality, appearance and environmental performance of the site without causing harm to the character of the area, neighbouring residential amenity or highway safety.”
The plans were submitted by Tomato Energy in July last year but the firm had collapsed by November and entered administration.
The energy firm, which was taken over by British Gas under an appointment by regulator Ofgem, had been banned from taking on new customers over debts of more than £3m.
The applicant was then changed to Kenny Virdi from Senapt Limited in November.
City of Wolverhampton Council approved plans in 2019 to use the land as a car park and the site was then completely cleared with a number of trees cut down.
Another planning application for a car park was backed again in 2021 after a redesign.
A statement included with the application: “The site is presently an unfinished car park, surfaced with gravel, which has served as a parking area for many years.
“The proposed development aims to transform this space into a completed and sustainable car park, designed to meet modern parking and green energy standards.
“The development includes finalising the top layer of the car park, creating a durable and organised parking surface with clear markings for each of the 205 parking bays, including four dedicated disabled parking bays and 82 EV charging bays.
“Additionally, the project incorporates a photovoltaic (PV) solar canopy system over the bays to produce clean solar energy.
“This energy will be managed on-site, either stored in batteries or used to supply local needs, supporting a sustainable energy cycle.
“A portion of the energy generated will be allocated to a community battery, creating a resource for local residents and contributing to Wolverhampton’s green energy infrastructure.”
