By John Baron
Solar panels could be installed on a popular community facility in Horsforth – four months after the initial proposals were refused by council planners.
A planning application to install 35 roof-mounted solar panels at The Grove, off Town Street, Horsforth have been submitted to Leeds City Council for consideration.
The proposed solar panels are to be installed on the east-facing roof of the main building and along its return (south-facing) gable. This side of the building faces onto New Street and away from the conservation area.
A planning statement submitted with the application stated: “Running costs for a building of this size are extremely high and these are met entirely by the church through voluntary donation.
“Recent rises in energy costs have significantly increased operational costs and made fund-raising more challenging and thus it is even more important that they find ways to reduce costs.
“The installation of solar panels will not only help future-proof the building making it more economic to operate and sustain it in the long-term, it will also make the building more energy efficient and reduce its carbon footprint.”
As previously reported by WLD, similar plans were refused by council planners last October because ‘the proposed solar panels were on the front elevation, facing the highway’.Â
The Grove Centre is a central hub for community activity in Horsforth. It hosts events and activities for people of all ages including a luncheon club, walking group, coffee mornings, ladies group and a local cinema.
For families and young people it provides a base for local Scouting, a holiday club, a mother and toddler group and various activity days. It also hosts special events and provides meeting spaces and room hire for local community groups.
The latest plans can be viewed in full here.
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