A CHURCH in Newton Abbot has become the first in Devon to harness the power of modern technology by installing solar panels in its church hall roof.

The St Paul's Church complex in Devon Square will soon be 'electricity neutral' after £55,000 plans to put a photovoltaic panel in the church hall roof were approved by Teignbridge Council's planning committee.

It is the first Church of England premises in Devon to have such equipment installed.

The Rev Russell Chamberlain is 'absolutely thrilled' that the plan has been approved, despite planning officers recommending that it should not go ahead. He said: "This will benefit the whole church community."

The church hall is attached to the side of the Grade II listed church designed by Joseph Rowell, a renowned Newton Abbot architect of the mid 19th century.

The building is in the middle of Devon Square conservation area.

The proposal is to remove some slates on the south-facing church hall roof and replace them with a photovoltaic panel to generate electricity from the sun.

Mr Chamberlain said: "This has been a very big project for us. It has taken about eight years to get to this stage.

"The electricity generated will feed the whole church complex, which is not just used by the congregation but also by groups, community organisations and playgroups.

"We will generate our own power and, if it works, we will be electricity neutral because we will be able to sell back to the National Grid.

"We are absolutely delighted that the plan has been approved. What we have wanted more than anything is to move into an environmentally friendly way of working."

Planning officers had recommended the proposal for refusal, saying that the roof alterations would be visually intrusive and harm the historic character and setting of the listed St Paul's Church.

Councillors sitting on Teignbridge Council's development control committee ignored officer advice and gave the plan the go-ahead.

Cllr Chris Clarance said: "If this was on the church it would be a close-run vote. The fact is, it isn't. If we do not support this I think we need to be hanging our heads in shame."

Cllr David Corney-Walker, a Newton Abbot town councillor, said: "We are talking about a church hall which already has contemporary features in its design."