Whilst there are many positive words you can use to describe a solar panel installation, “blessed” is not typically one that immediately comes to mind.
However, that is the exact phrase used during a ceremony at the famous York Minster cathedral, where over 180 roof-mounted solar panels were fitted to the roof, receiving the “highest blessing” ever undertaken by the Dean of York.
It was a remarkably poetic occasion and a milestone for the particular religious diocese, but it also was a milestone when it came to the thorny issue of installing solar panels on buildings of cultural and historical importance.
There have been commonly cited concerns that listed buildings simply could not have solar panels installed because of the perceived effects they would have on the “historic character” foundational to a listed building.
However, this is not necessarily the case, and Historic England even features some comprehensive advice on how they can be installed onto listed buildings without affecting their listed status or leading to legal penalties.
Do You Need Permission?
The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that you need permission on multiple grounds.
All solar panel installations need to comply with building regulations, and that will require the Building Control team of your local authority, as well as potentially the local planning council to be notified.
As well as this, you will also need to apply for listed building consent and work with a Conservation Officer to ensure that your installation is likely to be approved and completed without harm being done to the building in question.
Knowing that this is the case ahead of time allows the installation team, the Conservation Officer and the local planning authority to work together and give the plan the best possible chance of success.
This is also not a suggestion but a requirement; people can and have gone to prison for making unauthorised modifications to listed buildings, and damage to a building often needs to be rectified at considerable expense.
There are some exceptions for listed places of worship, which likely helped streamline the installation of panels on the famous Grade I York Minster building.
Location And Structure Matters
The impact of solar panels on a building is not limited to aesthetics, and the extra weight of a solar panel array might not be supported by an older roofing structure.
This means that a structural engineer will need to examine the additional loads the panels will have on the building and its potential impact on materials such as tiles and slates.
Often, the location of a solar array on a listed building will depend on the historic character of the roof, so if it is made out of materials that are not readily available such as hand-made tiles, stone or some rarer types of slate, work is unlikely to proceed until it is clear that replacements can be made available.
Nests Must Be Avoided
Listed buildings are often home not only to the homeowner but also to wild birds and bats, both of which are protected by law.
Even if you do not need to open the roof to fit the panels, the work can disturb bats and violate the law.
