38 CONTEXT 176 : JUNE 2023 JOHN PRESTON A world-wide precedent for solar panels? The planning decision to allow photovoltaic panels on the roof of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, is likely to have unfortunate ramifications on historic buildings elsewhere. ‘King’s College’s application to put solar panels on the roof of the chapel sets a world-wide precedent. Done there, it can be done anywhere,’ tweeted Councillor Dave Baigent, vice-chair of Cambridge City Council’s planning committee, after councillors overturned the officer recommendation of refusal for 462 PV panels on the chapel’s north and south roof slopes. This case involved planning and faculty jurisdiction. The planning committee report1 and debate contrasted with the diocesan chancellor’s approach: ‘I am well aware that two emotionally charged considerations come head-to-head in an application such as this: the preservation of a building of outstanding beauty, and the reversal of climate change ultimately to save our planet’. (From 1 July 2022 the Faculty Jurisdiction [Amendment] Rules 2022 require all applications for a faculty to demonstrate that the development of the proposals has been considered with due regard to the Church Building Council’s guidance on reducing carbon emissions.) I urge interested readers to start with the chancellor’s decision² and the requirements he set, and then to delve into the planning documents.³ The chapel is much taller than most nearby buildings. Its roofs are low-pitched, partially hidden from view by elaborate pierced parapets, and seen from a limited number of viewpoints, the most significant public views being from the east and west. In principle, this is an almost ideal location for inconspicuous solar PV. Major roof repairs provided a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity for the college, a quinquennial inspection having identified all the lead as requiring replacement. A decarbonisation report identified potential to reduce the college’s carbon emissions by an average of 23 tonnes a year, around 1.4 per cent of the college’s annual emissions over the next 30 years. All the electrical needs of the chapel will be met by the PV, which will be exporting energy to run other sustainable investments within the college – including future ground-source heat pumps, which will serve the chapel’s underfloor heating system. Pre-application meetings were held in late 2021, first with the diocesan advisory committee (with the conservation officer present as DAC adviser), then with the DAC, the Church Buildings Council, SPAB and Historic England. The college had intended to submit a single faculty application for the roof works and the PV, but was advised by the DAC to split the application into two parts. The Church Buildings Council formally expressed support. The college’s architect Oliver Caroe explains that the timing of the formal faculty submissions for the PV was dictated by consultee A mock-up of a trial panel (Photo: Caroe Architecture) 1 Cambridge City Council Planning Committee Report http://bc-url.com/ ctx176jp1 pages 109132; plans pack http://bc-url.com/ ctx176jp2 2 http://bc-url.com/ ctx176jp3 3 http://bc-url. com/ctx176jp4 to see the planning application documents and supporting information
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