Diocese completes work on first 'eco vicarage'

Nick Paxman outside the net zero diocese

A Church of England diocese has finished work on its first net carbon zero vicarage.

Last year, the Diocese of Carlisle bought a property in Natland, south of Kendal, to replace the village's existing Victorian vicarage.

Work has been carried out to cut the building's carbon footprint, including installing a new heat pump and solar panels.

The Bishop of Penrith, the Right Reverend Rob Saner-Haigh, said the move was part of the Church of England's efforts to reach net carbon zero by 2030.

Nick Paxman, the diocesan property manager, said: "The old Victorian vicarage in the village, though charming to look at, was very expensive for us to maintain, and more importantly impossibly expensive for our vicar to heat."

Now that the work has completed, Rev Canon Angela Whittaker and her husband Andrew will move into the new property in the coming days.

Carbon zero upgrades

To reduce the building's carbon footprint a new heat pump was installed, along with a pressurised water heating system, solar panels and battery storage facilities.

Anna Newlove, diocesan pastoral and net zero officer, said: “I’ve worked closely with our property team to ensure that the additional electricity costs of the heat pump are offset by the solar panel installations to attain net carbon zero status."

The Diocese has budgeted £1.25m over the next five years towards upgrading its properties, with the Natland vicarage one of three currently in the works.

Work has begun on a vicarage in Grasmere, while upgrades are scheduled for Easter on a property in Wigton.

'Tread gently'

Bishop Saner-Haigh said the Church faced challenges in meeting its net carbon zero target but that it was working to "tread gently" to protect the environment.

He said: "The improvement to this eco vicarage and our future schedule of works reflects this ongoing commitment."