Solar panels bid for historic barn conversion in Milton Keynes thrown out

Resident John Walker took his case to an appeal after Milton Keynes Council last year had refused his bid to put photovoltaic panels on his converted grade II listed former barn at The Green, in Loughton.

Mr Walker had claimed that using the roof to generate electricity was in keeping with the 18th century stone building’s history as a grain and livestock store which formed a “primary source of energy”.

He had also told the inspector that modern panels on an old working building is “exactly what Milton Keynes has sought to achieve since its designation as a new city, which embraces and integrates ancient settlements with modern architecture and technology.”

But planning inspector Elaine Worthington, who visited the site, decided to reject those arguments in a her decision made on January 8.

The barn was converted into a home in 1988 and the inspector said it has been “sympathetically converted” and despite its residential use the building maintained an “attractive rural appearance and character”.

The inspector ruled that the grey panels would have an “obvious and strident

appearance”.

She added: “Whilst the adaptation of the building over time is apparent, I am not convinced that the historic function of the property as a working building would be reflected in the introduction of the panels to what is now a building in use as a residential dwelling.

“I find that the panels would be unduly modern and discordant features that would unacceptably alter the appearance of the building.”

She also said it would cause harm to the significance of the conservation area and would fail to preserve its character and appearance.

The inspector said that the scheme would have public benefits in supplying electricity to the grid but these “would not outweigh the harm to the significance of the designated heritage assets.”