Adur & 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.

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.

Cllr Jim Deen, the chairman of the committee, said: “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.

“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.”