Solar on listed buildings

[Ahad]

Does anyone have any experience of installing solar panels on a Grade 2 listed house, in a conservation area?

 

I have looked through Listed Building Consent applications at the authority and they all seem to get approved, but presumably isn’t as easy as that. 
 

The panels wouldn’t be visible from street level. 
 

Any advice/ tips?

[DamonHD]

One swerve I helped with was to get solar PV for a listed property, within the curtilage for FiTs but outside the historic curtilage for listing purposes!

 

https://www.earth.org.uk/installing-solar-PV-for-electricity-at-home.html#farm

 

So there may be subtle things like that that help...

 

[JohnMo]

What ever you do make sure boxes are ticked

 

Permitted development doesn't apply, so you need planning AND listed approval - they are different and the two departments do not/ may not generally communicate with each other.

 

I once assumed they did and got bitten.

[BadgerBodger]

I’m not in a conservation area but my project is grade 2 listed. I’ve just had solar and ASHP approved. In my case they were really not keen on seeing it on the main build but accepted it on the extension. 
 

Every area has a different standard and I’d go as far as saying it depends upon the approach of the conservation officer. 
 

IMHO, the most expeditions route to finding the answer will be to make contact directly or find a good architect who has an existing relationship with them. I did both, my architect put the concept out there to test the water, I spoke about the finer detail and where the boundaries lay, we ended up with a submission that was passed fist time, as were the closure of the conditions. 
 

As others say, you have to get listed building consent and planning. Although, I haven’t quite figured either the removal of permitted development is solely to push you to the consent or whether the requirement for both is absolute. 

[Rishard]

Maybe not your first choice but one of our recent grade 2 listed projects ended up with solar slates. Not cheap but certainly look the business from street level. To the untrained eye they  look a bit like Spanish slate. All arranged through official planning applications with listed building consent ect through our architect specialising on listed buildings. 
 

As others have mentioned, a local architect is priceless in knowing what the local preference of the planning department is. 

[Ahad]

Thanks for the replies and particularly the advice about needing PP too. 
 

Having done some more research it looks like our council have never turned down a listed building application for solar. I can see recent approved applications for other nearby properties. So feeling quite encouraged by that. 
 

Although I spoke with an installer yesterday who said as the roof is slate it will need completely stripping to install the panel fixings. We are not intending to replace the roof, which whilst old is in reasonable condition, so plan to squeeze a few more years out of it. Not sure I fancy pushing my look by messing about with it though. 

[Dillsue]

Assuming your roof is in fair condition and doesn't need reroofing anyway, there's lots of videos on YouTube showing roof hook installation on slate roofs without a complete strip and relay.

 

I'd be tempted to use an experienced slate roofer to fit the hooks rather than a PV installer, unless they employ a good roofer themselves. Let the PV installer fit rails, panels, wiring etc

[Ahad]

Thanks, good idea. 
 

I’m minded to get an application in and if we get approval we can assess when the scaffold is up. Worst case scenario is we take a closer look and decide to can the idea. 

[SteamyTea]

11 hours ago, Ahad said:

Although I spoke with an installer yesterday who said as the roof is slate it will need completely stripping to install the panel fixings.

Find a new installer.

 

You could consider an in roof fitting systems, they tend to look a lot better anyway.

[Ahad]

3 hours ago, SteamyTea said:

Find a new installer.

 

You could consider an in roof fitting systems, they tend to look a lot better anyway.

Sorry that is what he was suggesting, I think, but I’m reluctant to have all the slates stripped, feels we’d be pushing our look as despite being serviceable the roof is still quite old. 

[Conor]

9 minutes ago, Ahad said:

Sorry that is what he was suggesting, I think, but I’m reluctant to have all the slates stripped, feels we’d be pushing our look as despite being serviceable the roof is still quite old. 

Get a couple opinions from roofers. If it is due a strip and reslate in the next decade or so, makes sense to do to it now. Use in-roof trays, keep all the slates, use the best for the roof and the rest as spares. And get a roofer to do all this, not a PV installer

 

Old buildings have these big costs now and again.