Solar Panels on Listed Buildings

[ljn]

On the encouragement of the Building Control officer, I am applying for Listed Building consent to install solar panels.

One CO is in favor, the other says "on principal the policy is to refuse, but make the case your case and we'll consider"

The panels would be on the south facing slope of the internal valley of the roof and would not be visible from outside the building as the building is the highest in the area and on a hill. The only place you can see the roof is from on top of the neighbor's roofs on the sam terrace.

Only 2 slates would be effected to allow for plumbing. The supports just slip under the slates.
So if the panels were to be removed in future, the roof would be intact (just replace 2 slates).
The panels will be of the "evacuated tubes kind, as these require less fixing and transmit less stress to the roof structure because they don't have the sail effect of the more subtle flat variety.

Does anyone have any examples of solar panels installed on listed buildings? Or statements from English Heritage, or anything else that might support the solar case?

 

[rogerh]

Perhaps you need these:

Wiltshire listed building's solar roof passed planning due to authentic slate look
http://www.environmenttimes.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?news_id=780

 

[Ixia]

We're installing evacuated tube panels on our victorian house roof, we're not listed but need pp as we're on the Isle of Man. The PV slates on the link look smashing, but theoretically they involve removing more original material that the uglier panels. Also the evacuated tubes work in a different away and are supposed to be more efficient.

With the cost of oil over here, we need all the help going.

 

[Manders]

You need to address two issues.

Firstly that the loss of historic fabic is minimal and the works are fully reversible. Secondly although that character isn't necessarily only about whether something can be seen or not, it does carry some weight. To highlight this issue you may want to make reference to PPG15 in respect of rooflights (the document is from '94 and doesn't include reference to solar panels of either type) and that you have chosen a non prominent roof slope.

Hopefully, in light of current thinking, you should get there.