Musselburgh pub owner's bid for solar panels to be rejected over roofing concerns

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.

A report due to be heard by East Lothian Councillors 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 principal 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 unaltered roof slope.

“This change to the roof slope would neither preserver 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 officers 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.