A new Wickes store in Sutton is set to build a sustainable future after installing solar panels to generate its own green energy.

The Travis Perkins Group, which owns Wickes, has had four solar PV systems installed across four buildings at newly built premises on the K2 Trade Park. One of the systems is on the roof of the brand new Wickes store, while the other three have been fitted onto buildings occupied by Travis Perkins-owned Tool Station, Benchmark and City Plumbing.

The solar panel systems were supplied by Soflex, another company in the Travis Perkins Group, and were installed by Solarlec, a Lancashire-based renewable energy firm.

Darryl Redhead, UK sales manager for Solarlec, said: "Solarlec is delighted to be an approved installer for the Travis Perkins Group. This is an exciting project for us to undertake on behalf of Wickes and the solar panel systems will generate significant savings and a guaranteed income from the Government FIT scheme."

Graham Lund, head of group development at the Travis Perkins Group, added: "As a company, we're committed to minimising our carbon footprint by reducing energy usage and waste. Renewable energy forms a crucial part of this, so choosing to power our latest Wickes outlet through solar PV was an obvious step."