Solar panels at 16 The Dale, Wirksworth

What was proposed

The application proposed solar panels on the east and west roof slopes of a single-storey rear extension, with four larger panels on each slope.

“Planning permission was approved for a single-storey, pitched-roof, rear extension (22/00880/FUL). The current proposal is for solar panels to be set within the roof on the east and west elevations. During the course of the application revised plans were submitted which changes the size and positioning of the PV and now four larger PV panels are proposed on each roof plane.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The property is an historic house in a residential area, within the Wirksworth Conservation Area and covered by an Article 4 Direction.

“16 The Dale, is an old, historic house, situated in a residential area, to the north-west of Wirksworth town centre. It is covered by an Article 4 Direction and lies within the Conservation Area. It is built of red bricks on the front and stone at the rear. The side is rendered. It fronts onto the pavement and has a parking area to the side / rear.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

The rear extension was approved, while an earlier application for roof-mounted solar panels was refused in July 2025.

“This application follows 25/00440/VCOND which also sought PVs to be installed on the roof plane and was refused in July 2025.”

Officer report

What officers advised

Officers recommended refusal because the panels would dominate the roof, harm the building and conservation area, and provide only limited public benefits.

“It is considered that the proposed solar panels in this case, would fail to preserve the character, appearance and heritage significance of the building and consequentially, the character, appearance and heritage significance of the Conservation Area. In this regard, there is a finding of harm.”

“The proposed solar panels will dominate the previously approved plain, uninterrupted, eastern roof-slope causing harm to the character and appearance of the host building and would harm the character and appearance of the Wirksworth Conservation Area. This harm would not be outweighed by the limited public benefits arising from the development.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The conservation officer objected because the panels would be visually incongruous, cover most of the roof slope and harm the conservation area.

“However, the east slope of the extension was to be plain and uninterrupted in appearance, so as to keep in with the prevailing character of the CA. It is proposed to install two rows of seven solar panels on the east of the roof, which will be set within the roof slope.”

“Solar panels have an overtly modern appearance that it incongruous with the natural traditional materials that characterise the application site and the wider CA. They would cover most of the east slope, essentially becoming the roof covering instead of the traditional Staffordshire blue tiles that were approved. The proposed solar panels would be clearly visible from the public realm along the side of No 16.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A representative of Wirksworth Town Council and the applicant spoke in support of the proposal.

What members discussed

Members considered the limited visual impact, partial screening by an access gate and the importance of giving greater weight to climate-change benefits.

“That the proposal had limited impact on the visual amenity of the immediate area, being partly obscured by an access gate.”

“The inclusion of solar panels in development to be viewed as positive with respect to climate change and to be given more weighting when considering this type of application.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Councillor Peter Slack moved to grant planning permission, Councillor Lucy Peacock seconded, and the committee agreed unanimously.

“Councillor Peter Slack moved a motion to grant the planning application, and this was seconded by Councillor Lucy Peacock and…”

Minutes