Planning permission granted for Mildenhall Hub solar panel canopies

04 Mar 2026

An innovative scheme to harness solar power and save over £130,000 and 120 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year in Mildenhall has been agreed by planners.

The proposed application for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) canopies in the main car park at Mildenhall Hub was agreed by West Suffolk Council’s Development Control Committee on Wednesday 4 March 2026.

The project is funded as part of the council’s strategic priority to improve environmental resilience and work towards net zero for its own buildings and vehicles by 2039, as set out in the council’s roadmap.

The fund has also delivered other projects such as new electrical vehicles (EV) for the council’s operational fleet, as well as the installation of EV chargers at public car parks such as The Guineas in Newmarket and Parkway car park in Bury St Edmunds.

Mildenhall Hub already has solar PV panels on the roof as well as capacity on site to store surplus energy using the existing battery.

However, due to the many different users at the hub, from leisure through to education, there remains a substantial demand for electricity. By installing solar canopies, the council can further reduce Mildenhall Hub’s reliance on grid electricity, thereby lowering utility costs and enhancing the site's environmental resilience.

Additionally, the canopies offer other tangible benefits such as sheltered parking from the rain and sun and will serve as a pilot for other car parks across West Suffolk.

The initiative is projected to deliver a positive return on the investment for taxpayers which can be put back into other public services. The project is estimated to generate £131,000 worth of electricity per year and save 124 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

The installation of the canopies will cause some temporary disruption to the car park and its users, however clear signage will be displayed onsite in the car park and inside the Hub, as well as updates through the website, social media and Hub tenant email distribution groups.

Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Governance, Regulatory and Environment, said: “With planning permission for the installation of the solar canopies, Mildenhall Hub will be able to produce more renewable energy. This will lead to the reduction of harmful carbon emissions as well as shielding the site, and its vital public services, from fluctuating grid prices. It will also provide some cover from the weather for those using the car park.”

The council’s continued efforts to decarbonise its buildings has led to West Suffolk Council being named the top performing district council in the buildings and heating category of the environmental scorecard issued by Climate Emergency UK.

More information about the net zero roadmap can be found: Tackling climate change

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