A bid by Moulton Windmill to put solar panels on a roof has been refused.
The volunteers who look after the over 200-year-old mill had hoped to put the panels on the roof of the granary where the cafe is situated to lower its energy bills.
It put forward two applications to South Holland District Council, one for the works and another because it’s a grade one listed building.
But the authority has now refused both, following objections from conservation groups.
They include Historic England which said it was ‘concerned’ the solar panels would look ‘visually obtrusive and harmfully impact the significance of the grade one listed mill and the Moulton Conservation Area’.
The Georgian Group, The Victorian Society and Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings also all raised objections.
The planning officer’s report refusing the application states: “An energy needs analysis should be provided that identifies the typical energy use on the site and the minimum number of panels needed to satisfy this use.
“It is considered there is no evidence to suggest the extent of panels proposed is needed to meet that demand (or indeed if it is enough) and potentially a more discrete row of panel may be suitable.”
A private donation would have funded the work, Moulton Windmill has previously said.
A spokesman at the time said: “The granary roof faces due south, is not overlooked, and it is hoped that solar panels will considerably reduce electricity bills and provide substantial input to the national grid.
“It is also likely that this will significantly contribute to the continued operation and longevity of the mill and the granary tea room.”
