CHESTER Cathedral is looking to splash out £52k on installing 206 solar panels on its roof, it has emerged.

But conservation group Historic England has concerns that the reflective material may detract from the views of the Grade I listed building from certain angles.

Documents lodged with a planning application to Cheshire West and Chester Council reveal the panels would be attached to the Nave, South Transept and Choir Roof.

Bosses at the cathedral say it will reduce the cathedral’s carbon footprint, cutting bills by around £6,600 a year.

The council’s conservation and design team is broadly behind the plan but needs more information.

Kirsty Henderson, an officer on the team, wrote in a report: “There is support for renewable energy for the Cathedral’s energy requirements. It is one of the most significant and important buildings in Chester.”

She added: “The works are acceptable in principle. However, more information is required to fully understand the impact of the proposals.”

Historic England is also seeking more details.

In its letter to the council, it states: “The current application has not accurately established the potential impact of solar panels, as mid and long distance views of the cathedral don’t appear to have been considered or the likely impacts evidenced.

“We would ask that further information is provided as part of the application to allow the impacts of the panels to be fully determined and to allow us to make a considered judgement of the scheme.”

The application was lodged in May and will likely be considered by the council’s planning committee. A date has not yet been set.

No member of the public has yet commented on the plans on the council’s website.