More than 400 solar panels can be installed on the roof of King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, despite concerns it could harm the Chapel’s significance. Cambridge City Council has approved the application with councillors saying the plans would be a “symbol” for others around climate change.

The application submitted by King’s College Cambridge asked for permission to install 492 photovoltaic panels on the north and south slopes of the King’s College Chapel. The solar panels on the chapel roof would contribute 1.4 per cent reduction in carbon consumption across the estate.

A representative of the College told councillors at a city council planning committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday, February 7) that the panels would meet the Chapel’s entire energy demand. They also highlighted that the solar panels would not be permanent and could be removed without damage if technology advancements meant they were no longer needed.

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They said: “In the context of the climate emergency we consider the very minimal visual impact caused by the panels to be insignificant compared to the benefits. The Chapel is part of a wider strategy. While each element has not been large, the impact of the whole is significant.

“This site is important to the strategy, there is no other surface in the area, the entire college grounds, that could deliver the electricity output of the proposed panels on the Chapel roof.” They also highlighted that people would not be able to see the panels for the famous west side view, adding that the test panels which were installed were “almost unnoticed”.

The application was objected to by the city council conservation officers who said: “The PV panels would effectively form a roof covering of different character and appearance than the lead roof and the visual differences would be apparent albeit in a limited way. The degree of harm to the Chapel’s significance would be modest, but given the building’s importance this harm has to be of concern.”

Historic England also objected to the plans stating it believed the solar panels would “harm people’s appreciation of the Chapel’s extraordinary architectural character”. The plans had been recommended for refusal by city council planning officers with a report stating that it was considered the panels would “detract” from the architectural character of the roof and “important views of the Chapel would be harmed”.

It added that the benefits of the carbon reduction were considered on balance to be “not sufficient” to outweigh the “less than substantial harm to the Grade I Listed Chapel”. However, councillors said they believed on balance that the benefits of the scheme did outweigh the harm.

Councillor Dave Baigent said the application presented an opportunity to “promote change”. Councillor Alex Collis said they were all “committed” to a net zero carbon future. She said the city council had called on other organisations and institutions to “play their part as well”, and said the plans were doing that. She highlighted that other “significant” buildings had also had solar panels installed, including Buckingham Palace.

Councillor Katie Porrer said it was a “difficult decision” for her as the Chapel was a “beautiful building” and she did not want to do anything to damage it. However, she said she did not believe the solar panels would be visible to many. Cllr Porrer added that if the application was approved she would like a condition added to say any redundant panels should be removed, and that any new panels should require new planning permission.

Councillor Martin Smart said: “We have extreme weather events around us all the time, this is not about saving money, it is about saving carbon, about saving the world. We talked some time ago in Cambridge City Council about the carbon we can save as a council as it was a small percentage of the total carbon in the city, but it is still worth doing it. Those small parts all contribute towards a bigger part around the world.” When the plans were put to a vote the committee councillors unanimously voted to approve the application.

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