Marrickville Heritage Society requests further information about the proposed installation of solar cells on the front roof of this house in a Heritage Conservation Area.
The small house is in a terrace row which is characteristic of the classic Victorian-era worker cottages and terrace houses that define the Enmore-Newtown Heritage Conservation Area. The installation of the panels will cover most of the front roof (excepting the veranda) and will be highly contrasting to the light coloured corrugated roofing of the other houses in the row, and disruptive of the Victorian aesthetic of street.
There is a large deciduous tree adjacent to the northeast boundary of the property, that over hangs the roof, so that for most of the year when the tree is in leaf, it appears to completely overshadow the roof where the panels are proposed. The DA application affirms that no trees are required to be removed or pruned for the installation.
It would be interesting to know from the installation designer how this overshadowing would effect the power output of the shadowed solar panels.
Independent assessments of the energy case and heritage impacts of this proposal would perhaps assist in finding solutions that are supportable for both energy sustainability and heritage preservation.
Scott MacArthur, President of the Marrickville Heritage Society
74 Margaret Street Newtown NSW 2042
- Description
- Installation of solar panels to the front roof plane
- Planning Authority
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Inner West Council
View source
- Reference number
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DA/2026/0425This was created by Inner West Council to identify this application. You will need this if you talk directly with them or use their website.
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Date sourced - We found this application on the planning authority's website on , about 2 months ago. The date it was received by them was not recorded.
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Notified - 684 people were notified of this application via Planning Alerts email alerts
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Comments - 4 comments made here on Planning Alerts
Public comments on this application
Comments made here were sent to Inner West Council. Add your own comment.
Hey Scott.
When I read this I imagined they'd be unique victorian tiles, or original slate like I have on my terrace. but in fact it is Colorbond. You're leveraging a heritage position on Colorbond sheets, mate. By your argument, if they were all originally grey then it would be OK? Colorbond, which you completely neglect to mention by name.
Take a look at the surrounding buildings. Nearly every single one within 50m has a unique appearance, including skylights, paint on colorbond fencing, loft windows, modern fenestration extensions, extra stories, etc. That was the nature of housebuilding at the time that all these buildings were built.
I am personally older than Colorbond, as I suspect you might also be. Hardly victorian and hardly worthy of protection in the face of climate change and energy needs. Of course the bigger problem is their neighbour's massive tree but I hope the 4 other cottages consider getting their own solar panels, too.
I support this DA and any future ones for this string of 5 homes that I would have not otherwise been aware of had Scott not posted the comment here. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Scott, so that I can support this DA and others like it.
I support this DA. More renewable energy is a good thing.
I was pleased to hear recently that IWC have relaxed their rules with regard to solar panels being affixed to the front section of roofs in the area. Measures that positively address the affects of climate change and allow residents to save money on energy bills are sensible and very welcome, and, in my opinion, trump roof aesthetics every time.
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