Inverkeithing church cottage retrofit plan: solar panels, EV charger, electric heating for low-carbon home

A planning application has been submitted to turn a historic church cottage in Inverkeithing, Fife, into a low-carbon home. The stone building on Church Street, which dates back to 1856 and was last used as a residence in the 1960s, would be retrofitted with internal natural insulation, upgraded doors and windows, solar panels on the rear roof, and fully electric heating and hot water. An EV charging point is also included. The applicant bought the former St John's Church in 2022 and wants to bring the cottage back into use as a one-bedroom home while preserving its historic character. The proposal is still pending validation. Fife Council requires updated drawings, a land ownership certificate, and separate listed building consent for removing church railings. If approved, the project would be a small but concrete example of heritage-led low-carbon retrofit in Scotland. It shows how older buildings can be upgraded for modern energy performance without losing their character, using natural insulation, solar panels, and electric heating.