All Saints church in Mundesley is asking planners for permission to remove existing tiles from its roof and replace them with the latest in solar technology – panels designed to look like natural slate.
The project is one of the first of its kind for the county and would see the devices provide electricity for the buildings’ lighting and power, with any excess passed on to the National Grid.
Planning officials at North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) have recommended the scheme for approval, and the scheme has the support of the Mundesley Parish Council and the climate and environment team at NNDC. However, the NNDC’s conservation team has objected to the plan as it feels that the “contextually incompatible” solar slates on the prominent south side would have a detrimental impact.
While NNDC’s planning officers acknowledged there would be some harm to a heritage asset they argued it would ensure the future use of the building, with the benefits outweighing the negatives, and would help the church in becoming one of the first carbon-neutral churches within North Norfolk.
The Grade II listed church sits in a prominent position in the coastal village, on a clifftop overlooking the sea. First built between the 14th and 15th centuries, All Saints was completely reconstructed between 1899 and 1914 after standing in ruins for many years. It was at that time the current roof tiles were installed.
The scheme follows a call from the Diocese of Norwich for churches to find ways to become more sustainable and reduce their environmental impact.
This story is based on an article in the North Norfolk News.
The picture of All Saints Mundesley is courtesy of norfolkchurches.co.uk
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Tony Rothe, 28/03/2023
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