Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre has been given the green light to install 427 solar panels on its roof.

And Everyone Active - the company that runs the facility - says it will 'reduce the centre's carbon footprint going forwards'.

The solar panel array application had been amended to remove the 403 panels proposed for the barrelled roof, with 56 of these relocated onto the flat roofs of the building.

The solar panel modules will have a heat-strengthened glass front cover with anti-reflective coating - and would be installed at a maximum projection of 320mm from the flat surface of the roof.

Duncan Gibb, Everyone Active's contract manager, said: "It is great news that these investments will reduce the centre's carbon footprint going forward. Everyone Active is proud to work alongside North West Leicestershire District Council, as part of our Net Zero Strategy, to help achieve our Net Zero Strategy - Everyone Active."

Whitwick Parish Council had no objections to the scheme - but asked what environmental mitigation measures are being taken by the applicant to help improve or offset their environmental impact within Whitwick.

The parish council also asked for a donation to help improve or increase its current tree stock which, it said, would help to reduce the current carbon dioxide concerns within the parished area.

But NWLDC has said is not possible to include such requirements within this type of application.

A council officer's report says that a full application was not required - although there was an issue over the potential impact of glare on the occupiers of neighbouring land.

But the proposed panels are to be located on the flat roof sections of the leisure centre building, in an area which is predominantly industrial along the southern side of Stephenson Way and with fields located to the north.

Residential properties are located to the north west of the site along Thornborough Road at a distance of more than 80 metres and to the east on Hermitage Road at a distance of more than 320 metres.

The site is planted with extensively wooded areas and there are other similar wooden areas surrounding the site.

The panels would be visible from Stephenson Way, but they would not be highly prominent and, given the low angle to which they will be installed, most of the array will be shielded by a parapet wall and the building is well set back from the highway.

But the report concluded that the proposal is not considered to have adverse impacts in terms of design and external appearance on the locality and would not result in significant glare impacts.