Eco-energy scheme for Art Deco cinema is backed by planners

A landmark picture house in Highland Perthshire looks likely to become one of the greenest in Scotland, after planning permission was granted for an ambitious solar power scheme.

Custodians at the renovated Art Deco Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy lodged proposals last year for dozens of rooftop solar panels.

They said the project could go some way to protecting the popular venue from rising running costs.

Now council planning chiefs have rubber-stamped the plan, which they say will improve the building’s heating system.

A spokesman said the panels’ impact on the conservation area was considered.

“The building, although not listed, is a building of merit,” he said.

“The preference in conservation areas would be for solar panels to not be located on principal or road-facing elevations.”

He said agents for the cinema had ruled out wind power and hydro-electric schemes because of the its town centre location.

“Biomass heating was also ruled out at the design stage,” the planning spokesman said.

“The initial proposal was to install 47 panels on the west elevation roof. However, after taking advice they revised the proposals to 27 panels on both east and west sides.”

He added: “It has the benefit of generating some electricity throughout the day, which suits a public building open from 11am until 11pm. By including battery storage, it is intended that no electricity generated on site will be exported to the grid.”

The Birks Cinema Trust said the plan could help the region become a “net zero carbon place by 2045”.