Bradford: Solar panel plans approved for Fountains Church

The building was formerly home to nightclubs before being converted into a church

A church can install almost 150 solar panels on its roof after plans were approved by Bradford Council.

Fountains Church, which lies within the City Centre Conservation Area, opened in 2019 after being converted from a nightclub.

Earlier this year, the Diocese of Leeds applied for permission to fit 144 panels on its roof to help decarbonise the building and reduce energy costs.

The plans for the building on Glydegate were approved at a meeting on 13 March.

The former Walkabout and Livingstones nightclubs, built as part of a complex in 2002, were transformed into the large church in 2019.

Although modern in design it lies in the south of the conservation area, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Referring to the solar panels, planning officers said: "They will not result in significant impact on the character or appearance of the building or the wider area with no heritage concerns raised by the Council's Conservation Officer."

The plans are the latest solar scheme to be approved as building owners look to wean themselves off more traditional energy sources.

Bradford Diocese Academy trust have recently been granted permission to install solar arrays on 17 schools across Bradford.