I wonder which is more important: aesthetic preciousness or cutting emissions.
Unfortunately the planners in Shrewsbury don’t agree.
We submitted an application for works on a Grade II listed building. These included: (i) solar hot-water panels on a hidden part of the roof; (ii) solar PV on a part of the roof visible only from a ca. 20 metre stretch of a lane; (iii) installation of double glazed sash windows designed to the original style and using crown glass on the external panel to maintain the treasured wobbly reflection; (iv) application of natural fibre “breathable” wall insulation on the internal side of the external walls.
The application was rejected outright. No explanation. No conditionality. No debate. No partial acceptance.
That’s a pity.
As energy prices rise and carbon constraints bite, those that can afford it will move from nice old houses to nice modern houses. It will not be viable to operate and maintain the old ones which are not allowed to be refurbished. Steadily the old houses will crumble. This is not what the planners want. Perhaps they are short-sighted people. This might have been brought on by excessive scrutiny of architectural niceties.
