Church secures widespread backing for proposal to install 56 solar panels on its rooftop

Church in Planning Battle Over Solar Panel Proposal

St John The Evangelist Church in Copthorne, West Sussex, is embroiled in a planning dispute with Mid Sussex District Council over a proposal to install 56 solar PV panels on its south-facing roof.

The church operators, who are aiming to reduce the building's environmental impact and lower energy costs, submitted the application earlier this year. However, the council claimed that the proposal did not comply with paragraphs 130 and 203 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

This is not the first time the church operators have faced opposition. Last year, a previous application for the solar panels was rejected, with the rejection based on the panels being deemed harmful to the design and external appearance of the church.

Despite this, the church operators have remained resolute and have not made any changes to the previous submission in terms of the number or position of the solar panels. They have carefully selected the solar panels to complement the existing clay tiled roofing, with color-matched aluminum supportive framework.

Inverter control equipment and a solar battery will be installed inside the church, and the solar PV array will provide energy to heat the building, either as an adjunct to supplies needed for the current radiant heating system or to supply an external air-source heat pump.

Locals have expressed their support for the installation of the solar panels, believing it would help the church reduce its carbon footprint. Some neighbors argue that the solar panels could make it possible for the church to keep running due to rising electricity costs. Over 20 neighbors have written in support of the solar panel installation, calling it an "absolute no-brainer."

However, the council has not yet decided whether the solar panels can be installed. The outcome of the current planning application remains unclear. Locals are calling for planning permission to be granted to help the church keep running.

The church currently uses 85 kW electrical radiant heaters, and the operators hope that the installation of the solar panels will significantly reduce these energy costs. The church operators are also studying ways to improve thermal insulation, draught-proofing, and introduce green generation electricity to further reduce the building's carbon footprint.

As of now, there is no information available about whether St John The Evangelist Church will be installing the solar panels on its roof. The church and the council are expected to continue discussions in the coming weeks.