ROLLS Royce will get a green boost at its Filton site after councillors signed off a renewable energy heating plant. 

The engineering giant’s proposals will also see the Gloucester Road complex gain a ground source heat pump, three air handling units, a packaged plantroom, and gantry and pipework. 

South Gloucestershire Council has additionally granted retrospective permission for a number of solar panels that have already been installed on two buildings. 

The application said: “Employing 3,000 people, Rolls-Royce Bristol is the company’s principal defence site in the UK. It is also a hub of cutting-edge training for apprentices, specialising in both the aerospace and naval sectors. 

“The Bristol site has recently benefited from a £75million investment to create a centre of excellence for the assembly, manufacture, test and overhaul of gas turbines for the defence sector.”

A spokesperson for Rolls-Royce said: “We’ve implemented a number of projects at our Filton site with a view to improving the sustainability of our operations. 

“These include the installation of an innovative renewable heating system to replace oil fired boilers and steam systems and extensive solar panelling to generate electricity. 

“Schemes such as these contribute to Rolls-Royce’s corporate target of reducing greenhouse gases by 50 per cent by 2025, as well as delivering considerable cost savings on our energy bills.”