Permission refused for solar panels on roof of former hotel in Clare town

The owners of a former hotel in Kilrush have failed in their bid to install solar panels on the front roof of the building with planning authorities upholding strict heritage safeguards.

Suzi Glynn and James Harding had sought permission to install panels on both the front and rear elevations of the mid-terrace four-storey building which is locally known as “The Monastery.”

The building, a protected structure, is located on Frances Street and is within the town’s designated Architectural Conservation Area, making it a landmark of significant heritage value.

Last year, Clare County Council granted permission for the installation of ten solar panels on the rear elevation of the roof but refused permission for a further ten on the front elevation.

This decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which has now upheld the decision of local authority planners.

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In a his report, which has just been published, Planning Inspector Derek Daly confirmed that while renewable energy installations are broadly supported, any alteration to the building’s appearance must not detract from its recognised architectural importance.

“The panel installation on the front elevation would represent an unsympathetic intervention on a significant local heritage asset,” he stated adding: “The building’s prominent location and its contribution to the townscape necessitate a cautious approach.”

Recommending that permission refused, Mr Daly noted that while the installation of solar panels offers environmental benefits, these must be balanced against the need to protect the town’s heritage fabric.

In their appeal, Suzi Glynn and James Harding argued that omitting the solar panels on the front elevation would reduce the renewable energy yield by more than 60% and compromise their investment.

Mr Daly's findings are broadly in line with national and local conservation policies which emphasise that even minor alterations on the front elevation of a protected structure could have a cumulative detrimental impact on the character of the local area.