Monday February 9th 2026
Crichton House West plans to put solar panels in paddock (pictured), image from Midlothian planning portal
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
The occupants of a historic Midlothian house want to put solar panels in a paddock to reduce energy costs after saying they have made the home carbon neutral.
The original Crichton House dates back to the 17th century and its west wing, which is at the heart of the application, is more than 300 years old.
Once the seat of the local laird, it is now split into two homes and an application has been lodged with Midlothian planners to install more than 30 ground solar panels in one of its paddocks.
A support statement lodged with the council says the occupiers of Crichton House West have already carried out work to reduce its carbon footprint and want to take the next step to make it less reliant on the National Grid for power.
It says: “They have previously undertaken improvements to the property to reduce its heat loss (secondary double glazing, upgraded roof insulation, replacement of Velux windows) and to replace an oil-fired central heating system with a ground-source heat pump that supplies central heating and hot water for the whole house which, combined with use of a 100 per cent green energy tariff, has made the house carbon neutral.
“An electric vehicle is also charged at home. The applicants wish to generate their own electricity to significantly reduce energy consumption from, and demands on, the National Grid, by about 60 per cent.
“Electricity generated by the solar panels will be transferred via an underground cable, using existing routes where possible, to a battery storage and inverter system to be installed in the house.
“Any surplus electricity generated will be supplied to the National Grid via a recently installed three phase electricity supply.”
Crichton House West is described as a four bedroom home which along with its neighbouring property is Category A listed.
It was originally the local laird’s dwelling and the 17th century building was split into two homes in the late 1970s with its former walled garden split into two paddocks – one for each house.
The application is with planners and can be viewed on the council’s planning portal.
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