Basic HTML Version
30
BCD Special Report on
Historic Churches
18th annual edition
Panels being installed at Bethesda Methodist Church, Gloucestershire (Photo: Mark Boulton)
CONSULTATION CHECKLIST
Congregations seeking to install PV equipment
should try to answer the following questions
in their proposals as this will address many
of the issues that consultees, such as EH,
local authorities and denominational
advisory bodies are likely to raise:
• Does the Statement of Significance
supporting the proposals provide
sufficient information to enable the
works to be understood in context?
• Does the proposal address the needs
of the building and congregation as
set out in the Statement of Need?
• Is there a compelling
justification for the work?
• What is the visual impact on the
building and its setting?
• Will the fixing of the equipment
(including cabling, pipework, etc)
damage significant historic fabric?
• Are the works reversible?
• Has a professional adviser such as an
architect been engaged to inform
the design and the routing of cables,
and to advise on the technical issues
in relation to routing, fixing, etc?
• Have other energy saving measures or
locations with less impact been considered,
implemented or shown not to be suitable?
• Do the proposed panels/slates form
part of a wider energy strategy for the
place of worship and associated land and
structures, which addresses reducing
energy consumption and wastage?
• Is the proposal of net environmental benefit?
• If necessary, have proposals been presented
for an appropriate level of recording of
historic fabric made accessible through
the proposed works, such as essential
roof structure, significant local roofing
techniques, assembly marks and graffiti,
and the condition of wall-heads?
• What conditions relating to the removal
of equipment if it falls out of use,
reinstatement of any removed fabric
and the making good of historic fabric
affected by the installation are required?
to the first three issues (see useful websites
section). Some parishes, having addressed
these issues, will want to consider
microgeneration in one form or another.
The fact that there are already PV
installations on listed places of worship
demonstrates that it is possible for
congregations to realise their ambitions
in this regard. EH’s published guidance
(Microgeneration in the Historic Environment,
2008) states that proposals for equipment
attached to listed buildings or unlisted
buildings in conservation areas will generally be
acceptable if all the following criteria are met:
1. the change will not result in loss of special
interest
2. the visual impact of the equipment is minor
or can be accommodated without loss of
special interest
3. in fixing the equipment to the building
there is no damage to significant historic
fabric and installation is reversible without
significant long-term impact on historic
fabric
4. the cabling, pipework, fuse boxes or other
related equipment can be accommodated
without loss of, or damage to, significant
historic fabric
5. the applicant can demonstrate that other
energy-saving measures or other locations
with less impact on the historic fabric and
the special interest have been considered
and are not viable
6. the applicant can demonstrate that the
proposal has a net environmental benefit
7. the consenting authority imposes a
condition requiring the removal of the
equipment, including cabling and boxes,
and making good of the historic fabric as
soon as it falls out of use.
If these criteria cannot be satisfied then
congregations might like to consider
freestanding equipment. If this is within a
scheduled area, close to a listed building, or
on a site included in the Register of Historic
Parks and Gardens or the Register of Historic
Battlefields, proposals will generally be
acceptable if the following criteria are met:
1. the appearance or setting of the site or
building is not compromised
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to English Heritage staff,
especially Nick Chapple, Sarah Lewis, Chris
Brookes, Richard Peats and Dale Dishon.
For the case studies, I am grateful for the
help of the Revd Canon John Patrick, Anne
Smillie-Pearson, Martin Findlay, the Revd
Hilary Ewing, Peter Boait, Elaine Bailey,
David Prescott and Mark Boulton.
Diana Evans
is Head of Places of Worship
Advice, Government Advice Team, English Heritage
and a member of the Society for the Protection of
Ancient Buildings’ Faith in Maintenance steering
group. She is a former member of the Council
for the Care of Churches and was DAC Secretary
for the Diocese of Peterborough (Anglican).
2. the ground disturbance caused by
installation is minimal and does not
compromise the historic significance of
the site.
The sustainability of our listed places of worship
is very important. We must work together
to ensure that what we do today to try to
secure the future doesn’t in fact make places
of worship more, rather than less, vulnerable.
Further Information
The following English Heritage publications are
available at www.climatechangeandyourhome.
org.uk:
•
Energy Conservation in Traditional
Buildings, 2008
•
Microgeneration in the Historic
Environment, 2008
•
Small-scale Solar Electric (photovoltaics)
Energy and Traditional Buildings, 2010.
The EH publication New Work in Historic Places
of Worship is available from
www.english-heritage.org.uk or through
EH customer services tel 0870 333 1181
email customers@english-heritage.org.uk.
For more information about PV installations
and places of worship see also
www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/
advice/advice-by-topic/places-of-worship/
climate_change_pow
Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/
planningandbuilding/pps22
Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the
Historic Environment
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/
planningandbuilding/pps5
Useful Websites
www.carbontrust.co.uk
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
www.creationchallenge.org.uk
www.ecocongregation.org
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
www.english-heritage.org.uk
www.london.anglican.org/Shrinking-the-
Footprint
www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org