Warwick District Council has identified the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington as a "priority for decarbonisation and has proposed installing solar panels on the building. 

WDC highlighted the Royal Spa Centre, which opened in 1972, has high energy uses, which it plans to reduce with solar photovoltaic panels (PV) to cut carbon emissions and reduce future energy costs. 

The plan includes 35 panels on the South-facing pitched roof 'turret' with a capacity of 19 kWp, and 21 vertically mounted panels on a South-facing elevation of the Northern turret, adding 11.5 kWp, for a combined capacity of 30.5 kWp. 

The installation is designed to be discreet, set back from the roof edge, following the roof's pitch, and mostly hidden from view due to the building's height. 

Though it would normally qualify as permitted development, special planning consideration is required due to the building's location in a conservation area.

The Royal Spa Centre is a theatre with 667 seats and a cinema with 188 seats and plays a key role in the town's cultural identity and local economy by hosting high-profile performances that attract residents and visitors. 

Assessment of the impact of the changes on other nearby historic features in the town has been identified as minor or none, with all changes identified are mostly visual to the Royal Spa Centre itself. 

The planning documents state: "The proposed rooftop-mounted panels at the Royal Spa Centre are located on a small, elevated area of the roof. The main area of the roof extends much further.  This roof area will not have panels installed. Therefore, the visibility of the panels from street level will be minimal." 

Justifying the positive impacts of the solar panels, the plans outlined: "In response to the worsening climate emergency, Warwick District Council has committed to reducing its organisational carbon emissions. 

"The installation of photovoltaic panels is necessary to ensure WDC meets these obligations. The proposal will have a significant impact on energy use at the site, whilst having minimal impact on the surrounding environment. 

"It is also argued that there is benefit to the panels being visible: It is important to raise awareness of climate change amongst Warwick District Council constituents, and WDC should be recognised as being proactive in its adoption of renewable technologies. This is particularly fitting on a building such as the Royal Spa Centre, on which the installation of PV will have no negative impact on building aesthetics."

In response to its role as a Statutory Consultee, the Gardens Trust has declined the opportunity to comment on the plans, thus far: "we do not wish to comment on the proposals at this stage. 

"We would, however, emphasise that this does not in any way signify either our approval or disapproval of the proposals." 

Leamington Spa Town Council also commented on the plans: "The Town Council supports the proposal to reduce carbon emissions within this public building."

The full planning documents can be found here.