A proposal has been submitted to Calderdale Council to install over 200 solar panels on the roof of Pickersgill Home Farm in Clifton, West Yorkshire, which is located within Kirklees Park, believed to be the final resting place of Robin Hood. The farm is not a listed property, but the park is home to Grade I listed Kirklees Hall and medieval ruins of Kirklees Priory. According to the proposal, the location for the solar panels was chosen because they would not be “highly visible” from Kirklees Priory or Kirklees Hall. The solar panels would be fitted within one meter of the external edge of the roof and would be close to the listed properties, therefore planning permission and listed building consent have been applied for.
Geo Green Power, the company preparing the application, stated that the solar panels would be capable of generating 90.2kW peak rating power and an anti-reflective coating would reduce glare. The application is currently being considered by Calderdale Council, but a date has not been set for the review. The location of the solar panels is a compromise between minimizing visual impact and generating renewable energy. The council will need to weigh the benefits of the proposal against any potential concerns about the impact on the historic surroundings.