Plans to install 96 solar panels on the roof of a beloved Gloucestershire museum, the Dean Heritage Centre, are expected to receive approval next week. The trustees have applied for permission to add photovoltaic panels to the roof of the café and library block within the Grade II-listed building at Camp Mill in Soudley, near Cinderford in the Forest of Dean.
The solar panels, which will cover gallery number one along with the café and library roofs, are designed to blend seamlessly with the historic structure. Featuring black frames and non-reflective glass, the panels meet conservation officer standards for materials and appearance.
Iain Baird, Chair of the Dean Heritage Museum Trust, explained in the planning documentation that they will engage a local company, GSM, which has previously installed solar systems on Forest of Dean District Council properties. “The existing roof is made of corrugated steel, so the solar panels will integrate well without creating visual contrast,” he said. “They will not extend beyond the ridge or edges of the roof, ensuring minimal impact on the building’s silhouette.”
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Importantly, the panels will be largely hidden from public view; they will not be visible from the road and will only become noticeable from a nearby pond dam walkway entrance. Most visitors to the heritage centre will remain unaware of their presence as they explore the grounds.
The trustees also stressed that the installation will not affect visitor access in any way. Council officers have recommended granting both planning permission and listed building consent, describing the proposal as a positive step in addressing climate change, even on a modest scale.
By reducing the museum’s dependence on fossil fuels, the project will help lower running costs and support the centre’s long-term sustainability as a treasured local attraction. Officers concluded that the solar panel installation would not harm the character or appearance of the listed building thanks to the careful choice of location and design.
The development management committee will review the proposal at their meeting on June 10.