Hundreds of solar panels planned for supermarket

The new Aldi supermarket in Sunderland is under construction

A supermarket chain wants to install hundreds of solar panels on the roof its new shop.

Sunderland City Council received an application for the new Aldi supermarket, which is currently being built off Philadelphia Lane, north of Houghton-le-Spring.

It is seeking permission to put 222 solar panels on the roof of the new store to reduce its carbon footprint and "contribute towards mitigating climate change".

Aldi Stores Ltd said solar panels would not be "directly adjacent to any residential dwellings" and would have a "limited" public view.

Construction is under way and the structure of the supermarket is starting to take shape, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The site in the Copt Hill ward once housed a bus depot before its demolition, with the discount retailer being granted planning permission for the site last year.

The application added the plans would "result in the lowest possible harm" to nearby heritage assets, which included a listed former power station.

It said that any harm would be "easily outweighed by the benefits generated by the reduction in carbon emissions resulting from the energy use of the renewable technology".

A decision on the Aldi planning application will be made following a council consultation exercise.