By John Baron
Council planners have refused plans to install solar panels at a Grade II listed church in Horsforth.
St James Church, in Low Lane, is around 177 years old and church chiefs had wanted to install solar panels in the South Nave and South Aisle pitched roofs in a bid to make the church more energy efficient.
But Leeds City Council’s planning department has refused the application.
A planning officer’s report concluded: “Given the location, scale and appearance of the proposed solar panels, the proposed development would have a detrimental impact on the architectural and historic character of the listed building.
“The application is also lacking in detail to be able to assess the full impact of some aspects of the proposals.”
A report submitted with the church’s planning application had argued: “It is considered the installation of solar panels on the North roofs will cause ‘less than substantial harm’ to the Listed building and its setting and should be weighed against the significant benefit to the environment and the sustainability of St James as a centre for the community of Woodside.”
Horsforth Town Council neither supported nor objected to the application.
The Victorian church building was designed by architect CW Burleigh and was consecrated in 1848.
The plans can be read in full here.
- More Horsforth news and views from WLD can be found here.
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