SOLAR panels proposed for the roof of Dorchester Town Council's offices in North Square have been refused planning consent.

The town council wanted to add 13 panels to the roof of the building to help with its energy costs – a request which a Dorset Council planning officer decided would be 'harmful'.

The building, No 19, is listed, grade 2, although the town council argued that the panels, while visible, would only have a minimum impact on the Conservation Area with the benefits of the energy they would provide outweighing any impact and would help the Climate Emergency declared by both councils.

"A clear public benefit of this proposal would be to contribute to the production of solar power, the lowering of carbon emissions and improving the energy efficiency of the building, and thereby contributing to climate change mitigation targets," said the town council in its planning statement to Dorset Council.

The town council say that in the year from June 2023 to June 2024 its offices consumed 17,254 kWh of electric, costing £4,227 while in the preceding year this was 18,157 kWh, or £4,448.

It estimated that the 13 panels would generate 5,430 kWh a year, resulting in an annual savings in CO2 emissions and a £1,330 saving of taxpayers' money.

The Dorset Council planning case officer, who decided the application, rejected the town council arguments, ruling that the solar panels would be 'harmful' to the prominent building and the Dorchester Conservation Area.

The officer said: "While we support the use of renewable energy sources at Dorset Council, schemes that protect Heritage Assets and Conservation Areas are needed.

"There is a possibility to the rear (of the town council building) to install solar panels to the side of the lower extension, but not to the front of the rear extension nor on the flat roof… to install solar panels on to the main roofscape would be harmful to the setting as it would not preserve or enhance the Conservation Area or the listed building and nearby listed buildings."