A CHURCH will soon be entirely powered by solar panels.

St Matthew’s Church in Tarring Road, Worthing, will install 20 solar panels on its roof, which will generate enough renewable energy to power both the church and the adjoining church hall.

Worthing Borough Council’s planning committee gave approval for the fitting of the solar panels after a request by St Matthew’s.

After discussions with the council’s conservation officer, it was agreed that the panels would be sited lower on the church roof, limiting the visual impact, to strike a balance between energy efficiency and building conservation.

Adur and Worthing Councils have pledged to be carbon neutral for the emissions they control by 2030, and for the area to be net zero carbon by 2045.

Councillor Jim Deen, chairman of Worthing Borough Council’s planning committee, said the council was delighted to approve the plans that will see the building become a part of a “more sustainable future”.

“We are delighted to give St Matthew’s the green light for the new solar panels, so that this community building can become part of a more sustainable future,” he said.

“The council has declared a climate emergency, and as such encourages the use of renewable adaptations such as solar panels as part of our ongoing commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change.

“The church is in the Shakespeare Road Conservation Area, but the committee agreed that the need to support action to combat climate change outweighed the limited impact the panels might have on the visual amenity of the area.”