The project
The Church of St Leonard in Southoe wanted to reduce its long-term energy costs and environmental impact as part of a wider programme of restoration and improvement. For a Grade I listed church with more than 800 years of history, the challenge was finding a way to add solar power without compromising the building’s architectural character.
We designed, installed and commissioned a solar PV system on the church’s existing lead roof. Standard solar mounting methods were not suitable for this roof, so bespoke fixings were designed and fabricated specifically for the project.
Working on a historic building meant taking time to understand the roof and the features that needed protection. We collaborated with conservation stakeholders and considered the church’s heritage significance throughout the design and installation. The mounting solution needed to secure the panels and meet modern engineering requirements while respecting the historic fabric beneath them.
The lead roof was central to the design. Rather than relying on standard fixings, the project needed mountings made for this particular roof construction. That allowed the team to address the practical requirements of the solar system while giving the church’s historic fabric the consideration it deserved throughout the work.
The completed system gives the church a source of renewable electricity to use on site. It supports the church’s aim to reduce its reliance on grid electricity and lower the carbon impact of its energy use. Above all, the project shows how a solar installation can be designed around the particular needs of a listed building, rather than asking the building to accommodate a standard solution.
