A village is taking a major step towards going green.

Teston Parish Council plans to convert its village hall in Church Street to renewable energy by installing 29 black solar panels on three sloping roofs at the back of the building.

In addition, four rear-facing windows, currently double-glazed but with panes said to be nearing the end of their life, will be bricked up to reduce heat loss.

Two air-to-air heat pumps are to be installed on a flat roof at the back of the property, which will be assisted by two units internally.

An array of batteries will be installed internally so any excess power generated during the day can be stored and used at night-time if necessary.

The measures should allow the hall to do away with its old gas boiler.

The scheme is being made possible with the help of a £45,000 grant from the Rural England Prosperity Fund.

There has been some form of village hall on the site since 1890. Initially known as The Parish Room, it was later upgraded and became The New Parish Room.

From 1935, it was run by a charitable trust, but in 1979, the parish council became the custodian trustee.

The village hall is home to the Teston and Wateringbury Preschool, but an extension built in 2014 houses the Teston Community Stores, run by a community interest company, which is the mainstay for shopping in the village.

The rooms that will be affected by the “green” measures are storage areas at the back of the building which were added in a 1970s’ extension. There will be no interference with the running of either the preschool or the community shop.

It is proposed that work will start on December 18 when the preschool breaks up for Christmas.

Before the measures can be enacted, Teston first has to obtain planning permission from Maidstone council.

The village hall does fall within the Teston Conservation Area but all the changes will be at the back of the property where they will also be partly hidden by a screen of trees.

The ward borough councillor Fay Gooch said: “I am in full and total support of this application.

“I have been most impressed by the careful planning and design of this project, particularly as there appears to be no visual intrusion on the surrounding locality.”

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, visit publicnoticeportal.uk

Details of the planning application can be found here.

Look for application number 23/504669.

Parish councillor Tina Burgen said the scheme gave Teston “an opportunity to lead the way in moving towards net zero”.