Solar panels on roof at Dean Heritage Centre, Cinderford
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Forest Of Dean Development Management Committee on 10 Jun 2025.
What was proposed
The application proposed installing photovoltaic panels and associated cables on the roof covering gallery 1, the café and the library.
“Installation of PV panels and associated cables on the roof which covers gallery 1, the cafe and the library.”
Officer report
The site
The heritage centre is in the Soudley Valley, and the café building is curtilage listed because of its connection to the Grade II listed mill.
“SITE DESCRIPTION The Dean Heritage Centre is situated in the Soudley Valley. Its mission is to document and preserve the social and industrial history of the region and its inhabitants. The centre includes a museum, a millpond with a working waterwheel, a forester's cottage with a garden and animals, as well as art and craft exhibitions, workshops, and trails through the surrounding woodlands.”
“II “Former corn mill called "Camp Mill", now museum. 1876. Rubblestone, slate roof with continuous row of roof lights to west. 3 storeys and attic. Single range. 5 windows (3 on 2nd floor), segmental headed with stone voussoirs and central horizontal hopper lights. 4 doors on ground floor, 2 to left are C20 enlargements. Interior altered due to conversion to museum”.”
Officer report
Earlier advice
Earlier advice said panels could be accommodated if sensitively mounted, with black frames and non-reflective panels, and that permission was required.
“P1438/24/FUL - Pre-application Advice - Installation of solar PV panels on roof, is planning permission/listed building consent required?”
“Planning permission is required because permitted development rights for solar panels on non- domestic buildings do not apply if the building is either listed or curtilage listed and as a result, both listed building consent and planning permission are required”.”
Officer report
Officers’ recommendation
Officers recommended granting permission, and the application was presented to committee because the site was council-owned.
“This application is presented to Committee as the site is in ownership of the Forest of Dean District Council.”
Officer report
Member debate
Members supported accepting the recommendation, noting visual impacts had been addressed and the panels could support the centre’s sustainability and income.
“The ward member advised that the only possible objection with this application might be the visual consideration, however every step has been taken to mitigate that, so I am in agreement that the officers recommendation should be accepted.”
“Councillor Simon Phelps expressed that this has been a long held aspiration of the Dean Heritage Centre (DHC) and this will enhance the sustainability of an income stream for the DHC and it is anticipated that the solar panels will generate in excess of the sites needs…”
Minutes
Sources
- Forest Of Dean Development Management Committee minutes, 10 June 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Forest Of Dean's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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- Council
- Forest Of Dean
- Date
- Tuesday 10 June 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Forest Of Dean committee decisions →
This committee's year
5 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.