Highland Council grants Inverallan Church planning permission for solar panels as councillors overrule officials securing its future for ‘generations’

A determined effort by Highland Council planners to refuse planning permission for solar panels Inverallan Church has been thwarted – so the iconic B-listed building is likely to be “a vibrant thriving community asset for generations to come.”

The installation of the panels are key to securing the financial viability of the church, which was opened in 1886, but officials felt they would have “a significantly adverse impact upon the historic character of the listed building”.

It led to a stand-off that many thought had been resolved when the matter went to the planning review body at Highland Council in January when it got planning permission – yet officials still recommended refusing the application.

Both Badenoch and Strathspey councillors – Bill Lobban and Russell Jones – spoke in favour of granting planning permission to secure the church and they were joined by Aird and Loch Ness member Chris Ballance.

The insistence of planners that the plan would have an “unacceptable” impact on the “special architectural merit or historic interest of a listed building” did not go down well with members.

‘Surprise at refusal… would be an understatement’

Cllr Lobban seemed to hint at the dissatisfaction when he said: “To say I was surprised to see this application coming forward with the recommendation for refusal is somewhat of an understatement.

“Given as recently as January 28 this year the planning review body unanimously approved the planning application. The approval by the planning review body is a significant material consideration and it is also of note that Historic Environment Scotland do not object to the proposal.

“The historic environment team’s sole objection appears to be that these solar panels would be mounted on the principal frontage roof elevation.

“These panels will not be viewable from Church Avenue, which is the sole principal frontage of the building – they are only available obliquely on the side elevation from Grant Road and even then during a significant part of the year they would be obscured by tree cover.”

He then listed a series of national and local planning regulations highlighting how the proposal accords with the requirements as “any minor impact is clearly outweighed by the benefits” and so “does pass the statutory test”.

Cllr Lobban concluded: “You have two alternatives, you can accept refusal which will result in a well-loved historic local building closing and inevitably fall into disrepair.

“Or: you can support the application before you today which will result in this application becoming a vibrant thriving community asset for generations to come.”

‘The sun is to the south of Scotland’

Cllr Jones argued that it may be seen as ironic for the historic environment team to argue against the solar panels when all they would do is keep the church open and functioning – the alternative is closure is a ruin.

He said: “If we accept the refusal we may well see the closure and loss of this iconic Grantown building within a few years – but if we grant the application and allow the installation of the solar panel, we almost certainly guarantee its future of Inverallan Church.”

He added: “Almost every point in our papers that are recommendations for approval could be read as reasons for approval, social and economic benefits, securing the building, general support for renewable technologies.”

Cllr Ballance said: “The advice from the historic environment team that solar panels would be better suited facing towards the north rather than the south is one of my favourite pieces of planning that I have come across in my two years on this committee.

“It may have been written by an Australian who hasn’t yet worked out that the sun is to the south of Scotland”.

The move to grant the application was accepted unanimously.

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