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Pub owner’s bid to put solar panels on its roof is set to be rejected

Pub owner’s bid to put solar panels on its roof is set to be rejected

A Musselburgh pub owner’s bid to put solar panels on its roof is set to be rejected over concerns about their impact on the listed building.

Nigel Finlay has applied for Listed Building Consent to place 27 panels on the roof of Staggs, on the town’s North High Street.

But a report due to be heard by East Lothian Councilors next week warns the panels will ‘harmfully alter’ its historic slate roof and the special architectural interest of the building.

It says the panels will cover the majority of the south facing slate roof and be seen from the street.

The report said: “It was suggested that alternative solutions should be explored such as ground mounted solar panels, relocating the solar panels to different roof slopes of the building and/or air source heat pumps.

“The applicant confirmed that these alternative solutions were not financially viable.

In their position on the main roof slope of the building, the proposed 27 solar panels would be visible from the public road of North High Street. The proposed solar panels would cover a large proportion of the roof slope and as such would radically alter the character and appearance of that otherwise unchanged roof slope.

“This change to the roof slope would neither preserve nor enhance but would be harmful to the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building.”

One objection to the panels was received claiming it would be against Conservation Area policies however officials said the building was not in such an area.

Staggs, also known as the Volunteer Arms is listed as a mid 19th century pub which has retained much of its Victorian interior making it of special interest.

The application for Listed building Consent will be decided by elected members at a planning committee meeting next week.

By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter


The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organizations.