Owners of a £750000 listed home told to tear down solar panels that caused …

Andrew and Claire Ashley have been ordered to rip down the
£10,000 panels from the grade II-listed property
The panels will have ‘a significant
visual impact which will diminish the special interest of the building’, said the local council

By
David Wilkes

PUBLISHED:

22:08 GMT, 17 October 2012

|

UPDATED:

22:08 GMT, 17 October 2012

Devastated: Andrew and Claire Ashley have been ordered to rip down the £10,000 panels from the £750,000 grade II-listed property ¿ despite insisting that they are only visible from the bottom of one neighbour¿s garden

Devastated: Andrew and Claire Ashley have been ordered to rip down the £10,000 panels from the £750,000 grade II-listed property – despite insisting that they are only visible from the bottom of one neighbour’s garden

Installing 18 solar panels on the back of the roof seemed the best way to go green while preserving the character of their listed home.

But out of sight is not out of mind as far as Andrew and Claire Ashley’s local council is concerned.

The couple have been ordered to rip down the £10,000 panels from the £750,000 grade II-listed property – despite insisting that they are only visible from the bottom of one neighbour’s garden.

The panels will have ‘a significant visual impact which will diminish the special interest of the building, including its character and setting’, the council said in a report.

‘The energy-saving benefits that may be derived are not considered to outweigh the harm that would be caused.’

In addition, allowing them to remain would set a precedent which ‘could have far-reaching consequences for Wiltshire’s historic environment’.

Last night, Mr Ashley, 47, a company director, said: ‘Our electricity bill has halved already – and the Government is encouraging people to do what we have done. If we have to pull them down we’ll be devastated.’

Mrs Ashley, 39, added: ‘A house on the other side of the village green where the building is not listed has solar panels on its roof and they are completely visible from the front. It doesn’t make sense.’

The couple live in a late 18th-century home in Aldbourne, Wiltshire, with their children Hugh, eight, and Annabel, 11. The panels were installed in February but the couple applied for planning permission retrospectively.

Permission to keep all 18 was refused by Wiltshire council, as was a revised application to retain 15.

Out of sight? : This picture shows the solar panels on the rear roof of the Ashley family home

Neighbours Juliette and Jonathan Martin objected in a letter to the council. But yesterday councillor Chris Humphries said: ‘I think the committee was splitting hairs.’

However, Hugh Bland, chairman of Aldbourne Parish Council’s planning committee, said: ‘They are on a listed building. They are highly visible from a neighbouring property and would be setting a precedent.’

Mr and Mrs Ashley are now considering whether to appeal.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

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They’re right, look ugly.

–

ozelmer
,

Brisbane,
18/10/2012 00:42

I cant see the problem, councils like to throw their weight about.

–

maggie
,

solihull, United Kingdom,
18/10/2012 00:42

local council doo gooders what an absolute shwoer out of touch rules rules rules wake up you prehistoric idiots and do whats right xxx they being good and eco friendly leave them be idiots !!!!!

–

RICKTHEARTIST
,

LONDON,
18/10/2012 00:39

Appeal. If the government wants to pretend they support this Green rubbish then why should you be discriminated against because you live in an older house. The government needs to decide: do they believe all this green rubbish or not? If they do believe It then it shouldn’t matter what type of house You live in as the emphasis should be on saving energy and the planet. what is most important? Appearance or energy saving? good night

–

Madcowmaisie
,

Glasgow,
18/10/2012 00:39

A ridiculous Council decision – these panels are not ugly, and whether or not the house is a Grade II listed, we live in an age where energy conservation is essential and all efforts such as this should be encouraged.
It would be a different matter if the family had installed a huge wind turbine on their roof. These panels lie flush with the roof and are as unobtrusive as is possible.

–

Rosemary
,

London, United Kingdom,
18/10/2012 00:31

Petty minded, non polluting solar, I thought was the way forward.

–

Man on a Soapbox
,

London, United Kingdom,
18/10/2012 00:26

These panels are ruining the attractive suburbs all over the country.

–

michelineb
,

uk,
18/10/2012 00:25

And the satellite dish is acceptable?

–

h2o
,

Mississauga, Canada,
18/10/2012 00:24

they own their house so why dosen’t the council(which is usually run by idiot’s)keep their big nose out

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pearl
,

portsmouth,
18/10/2012 00:23

Why do people wreck perfectly decent old buildings by trying to turn them into light and airy, energy efficient cubes? Why not buy a light and airy, energy efficient cube in the first place?

–

Craig
,

Kent, United Kingdom,
18/10/2012 00:23

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Owners of a £750000 listed home told to tear down solar panels that caused …

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