CHURCH OFFICIALS have said they are ‘disappointed’ with a government inspector decision to turn down plans for a grade-II* listed Lake District church to install more than 20 solar panels in a bid to be more environmentally friendly and reduce heating costs.

The Planning Inspectorate dismissed an appeal from St Anne’s Church in Ings to install 28 solar panels after ruling the proposals would ‘harm’ the significance of the listed building.

Reverend James Richards, team rector of the South Lakes team said: “We’re obviously disappointed, it’s a very much-loved building that the church has worked very hard to make into a warm and usable space to ensure its continuing viability.”

In planning documents, the church said it considered the installation of solar panels due to the increased usage of the church and the increasing cost of energy.

The church added the installation of the solar panels would make the energy demands of the building 86 per cent carbon zero.

In 2020, the Church of England committed to achieving net zero in relation to carbon emissions by 2030.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Carlisle said: “The introduction of the solar panels would have further enhanced the carbon neutrality of the building, the work on which has already been recognised by Historic England and the Church of England nationally.”

“Importantly, too, for a parish of 150 people the solar panels would have represented significant financial savings around energy use”, the spokesperson added.

The Planning Inspectorate decision comes after the Lake District National Park Authority refused the planning application from the church in November 2023 due to concerns the proposed development would have an ‘adverse impact’ on the character of the area.

A decision notice issued by the LDNPA in November states: “The proposed solar panels would obscure the majority of the existing weathered local slate roof and replace this with the modern, functional, engineered and often reflective appearance of a solar panel array, its associated framing and installation fixings.

“This would represent a visual intrusion, disruption and contrast in the consistency of materials displayed in the building and surrounding local area resulting in harm to the significance of the Grade II* listed building, an adverse impact on the outstanding universal values of the English Lakes World Heritage Site and adverse impact on the character of the local area.”

A heritage statement submitted by the applicant admitted the proposals would have some impact on the view of the church from the south but added the plans would help the building meet the Church of England’s net zero targets and positively impact the financial security of the church.

A report by the Planning Inspectorate says the proposed addition of solar panels would help the ‘long term financial and environmental sustainability’ of the church.

However, it adds: “Set against this I have identified harm to the significance of this important listed building.

“This harm relates to the erosion of the visual coherence of the southern elevation, a key aspect of the special interest and significance of the building and a focal point for the village of Ings.”

“Whilst the public benefits taken together would be of some significance, particularly locally, they would not outweigh the harm to these designated heritage assets”, the government inspector concludes.

The spokesperson for the Diocese of Carlisle added: “We would always welcome opportunity to enter into further discussions with the Lake District National Park Authority and other interested parties in order that together we can look as closely as possible at how we can best protect God’s creation as we continue to face up to the enormous challenges of climate change.”

The Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal on October 22.