Solar plans and renovations on historic York chapel blocked over 'harm' fears
Renovations to a historic York chapel building including solar power plans for its roof have been refused.
York St John University’s application would have seen the roof of Quad South Chapel, in its campus off Lord Mayor’s Walk, fitted with photovoltaic (PV) slates and the building refurbished.
Plans stated the works would ensure the chapel would continue to serve a key function as an important education facility.
But York Council planning officers stated the benefits of the renovations including the generation of solar power did not outweigh the potential harm to the building.
The Grade II-listed Quad South Chapel was built in the 1850s shortly after the opening of what was then York St John College.
It was designed by George Townsend Andrews, the architect behind other buildings on the York St John campus and the De Grey Rooms, and built in the Gothic revival style.
The chapel hosted daily religious services for students but it had been turned into a performance space by the 1960s after the range of subjects offered at the college expanded.
Alterations were made to create a dedicated drama studio in 2005, giving the building its current interior layout.
Plans lodged with the council proposed removing the building’s existing slate roof and cement-based render to the stone gables.
Roof battens would be replaced and insulation and breathable membrane installed.
PV slates would be fitted onto the south eastern side of the roof along with new lead work.
Stone copings to the building’s gables would be reset and renovations and repairs done to rainwater goods.
The university’s plans stated the works would allow the use of the building to be continued in a way that is consistent with its conservation.
Plans stated: “The chapel is an important education facility within York St John University and this development will ensure that it continues to serve that key function.
“In doing so the development brings sustainability and ensures that the heritage asset it is maintained in a good state of conservation.
“We believe that the proposals represent less than significant harm to the heritage values of the Chapel and that there are clear public benefits from the proposals.”
But York Civic Trust objected to the application claiming the PV slates would be highly visible on the roof, negatively affecting the building’s character.
Council planning officers ruled the works would result in the loss of elements of the building which were part of its historic character.
They stated: “The proposal would cause less than substantial harm to the Grade II-listed building.
“Whilst the solar slates are proposed with the intention of mitigating climate change and seek to facilitate the building meeting a net zero target, it is not considered that this benefit would outweigh the level of harm identified.”