Plans to install solar panels on the Grade I listed home of the new Archbishop of Canterbury have been branded a 'complete disgrace'.
Dame Sarah Mullally will become the first female principal leader of the Church of England next year and is set to be installed during a ceremony in January.
But the Church, soon to be under her leadership, has already upset both locals in the Kent city of Canterbury and conservation experts with two sets of plans for renovations at the official residence at Old Place.
The building sits in the centre of the city, next to the Cathedral.
Under the plans, solar panels would be installed on the roof of the Old Palace and a new toilet and bathroom and several stairlifts would be put in.
But heritage campaigners from the Canterbury Heritage Design Forum (CHDF) said the plans were 'not aesthetically pleasing' and local residents said it would 'ruin' the building.
Roger Collingwood, 73, has lived in Canterbury for 30 years and said he thought the plans were 'very poor'.
The retired engineer said: 'Why can't things be kept how they are? It'll ruin the building.
Wendy and Sean Larkin, who are regular visitors to Canterbury and live just outside, said they opposed the plans.
'Why does the church need to go woke? Why can't we keep with some tradition? It's a complete disgrace to want to tamper with the building to such an extent.
'I'm not against solar panels or new energy. But there's thousands of new homes being built everywhere, so do it to them, not historic buildings.
'This is the heritage of the area and the community. It makes no sense.'
Mr Collingwood said he would put in an objection against the plans.
He added: 'Where will it stop? If you let significant changes like this in, what next?'
Wendy and Sean Larkin, who are regular visitors to Canterbury and live just outside, said they also opposed the plans.
Wendy, 60, said: ‘It’ll just cause disruption. Why would you want to mess with tradition? They’re not crucial. It can operate and run without solar energy, so why mess with it?
‘I don’t agree with it. It doesn’t seem right to me.’
Sean added: ‘You don’t come to Canterbury to see solar panels. There’s not many places in the country like Canterbury anymore.
‘We need to keep as much tradition and heritage as we can. These plans do the opposite to that.
‘I don’t agree with them. The benefits don’t outweigh the negatives.’
The Church has angered locals with two sets of plans for renovations at the official residence at Old Place
Mamun Shaikh, 41, said he supports the idea of solar panels but was concerned about the building
Janet Wood, 67, has lived in Canterbury for 40 years and said the plans would 'ruin' the heritage of the area.
The retired customer service manager said: 'I think it'll just look terrible.
'It will just ruin it forever. This is history. It's hundreds years old. The idea of solar panels makes me upset because we need to protect our history all we can.
'This is so special.'
'It's not a great way to try and build a relationship with local residents. I've often thought the church do what they want anyway.
'After what happened with the resignation of the previous Archbishop, you'd have thought they'd listen to locals.'
Mamun Shaikh, 41, said he supports the idea of solar panels but was concerned about the building.
He said: 'We received a letter about it. It's a very historic area. The shops and homes are. I would be worried about that changing because of this.
'It needs to stay the way it is.'
But local Mark Bateson, 66, said he was happy with the changes.
He said: 'I've lived in Canterbury for around 30 years. I am ok with these plans.
'I don't think it'll have a significant impact.'
Fire alarms and smoke detectors would also be added to the property and a 'commercial kitchen' in the palace would be reworked, with units removed and a partition wall knocked down.
Mark Bateson, 66, said he was happy with the changes. He said: 'I've lived in Canterbury for around 30 years. I am okay with these plans'
The Church Commissioners also want to undertake outside alteration work, including repairs and partial replacement to roof coverings, replacement rainwater goods and stonework conservation.
Canterbury Heritage Design Forum (CHDF) said the plans were 'not aesthetically pleasing'.
The group said: 'CHDF find it hard to like these proposals, necessary though they may be to meet access requirements and to improve sustainability.
'Most of the changes seem to be reversible, which is fortunate as they are not aesthetically pleasing as far as can be seen.'
And Canterbury District Swifts group said swifts could be present in the eaves of the historic building.
Swifts are considered an endangered species in the UK and are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species because of population declines in recent decades.
Savills, representing the Church Commissioners, said of the proposals: 'Although the area has undergone significant alteration over time, it retains considerable historic value and sensitivity.
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'The proposals are intended to improve functionality while respecting the historic character of the building and are accompanied by minor repair works.
'The works are fully reversible and have been designed to respect the character of the space while improving its functionality.'
They added that in terms of heritage terms, the level of harm is 'considered none'.
Dame Sarah is the current Bishop of London and Archbishop-elect of Canterbury and will replace Justin Welby who quit over an abuse scandal which has hit the church.
A spokesman for the Church Commissioners told The Telegraph: 'The building is in need of maintenance and repair, which is routinely carried out when a property is empty - this includes roof works, damp proofing and the general maintenance required for a Grade 1 historic building of this kind, consistent with our obligations as good asset managers.
'We are of course mindful of the views of the local community and will do everything we can to ensure the works cause minimal disruption - both to the locals as well as the wildlife that has made its home on the site.
'The installation of solar panels is designed to 'future-proof' the site, cutting emissions and reducing running costs over the long term and is part of the Church of England's ambition to become net zero by 2030, as approved by Synod in 2022.'