Key facts
| Council area | North West Leicestershire |
| Population | 15,120 (Ashby-de-la-Zouch built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Ivanhoe Business Park; Ashby Business Park; Nottingham Road Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 975 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Ashby-de-la-Zouch
- Ivanhoe Business Park: One of Ashby's primary employment areas, off the A511 bypass near the A42, with well over 200,000 sq ft of industrial and distribution space built by 2017 and office occupiers; BEUMER Group opened its UK head office there in April 2023.
- Ashby Business Park: An Indurent industrial estate on Coalfield Way, named by the district council as a primary employment area, offering units with 9 metre eaves, level loading, secure yards and offices, about 10 miles from East Midlands Airport.
- Nottingham Road Industrial Estate: Named by North West Leicestershire District Council as one of Ashby's three primary employment areas, alongside Ashby Business Park and Ivanhoe Business Park.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Snack manufacturing (KP Snacks): KP Snacks traces its Ashby factory to 1948, when Meredith and Drew opened there and became one of the first UK makers of potato crisps; in 2020 KP moved popchips production into a new facility at the Ashby factory, creating 24 jobs.
- Materials handling systems (BEUMER Group): BEUMER Group, a global supplier of intralogistics and baggage handling systems, opened its UK head office at Ivanhoe Business Park in April 2023.
Large, simple roofs on distribution sheds and modern industrial units are usually the quickest and cheapest to fit. Older mill, factory and workshop buildings can work well too, but often need a structural survey first, and roofs from before 2000 may contain asbestos cement: see asbestos roofs.
Grid connection
Ashby-de-la-Zouch is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands licence area). Almost every commercial system needs G99 approval from the network operator before it is switched on, and the question is usually how much the local network can take back. Where export is limited, a G100 export limitation scheme can let a larger array connect. See G99 and DNO applications.
Planning in Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Ashby-de-la-Zouch follows the national planning rules for England, decided by North West Leicestershire council. Rooftop solar on most non-domestic buildings is permitted development, within height and edge limits, and systems above 50 kW need a prior approval application covering design and glare.
Points that come up locally:
- The Ashby conservation area covers the historic core of the town centre and includes the Grade I listed Ashby Castle, so roofs in the centre need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Ashby-de-la-Zouch could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 975 kWh per kWp a year.
| Item | Illustrative figure |
|---|---|
| System | 100 kWp, south facing at 30 degrees |
| Installed cost | £900 per kWp, so £90,000 excluding VAT |
| Generation | About 97,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,380 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,463 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,843 |
| Simple payback | About 5.0 years before tax relief |
Illustrative, not a quote: the same sums as our commercial solar calculator. A company paying corporation tax can usually shorten the payback with capital allowances.
Funding and support
We found no council or regional grant for business solar open in Ashby-de-la-Zouch at the time of writing (November 2026). National reliefs still apply, such as capital allowances and, in England, the business rates exemption for onsite renewables: see grants and reliefs in England.
Solar across North West Leicestershire
At the end of 2025, North West Leicestershire had 3,785 solar PV installations with 73.2 MW of capacity, up 26% since 2020, according to government figures. The North West Leicestershire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Coalville, about 4 miles away
- Burton upon Trent, about 8 miles away
- Loughborough, about 11 miles away
- Tamworth, about 12 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- nwleics.gov.uk: Ashby Site Assessment
- commercialnewsmedia.com
- indurent.com
- ashby.nub.news: international company opens new head office in ashby
- kpsnacks.com: our story
- packagingscotland.com: kp snacks pop plastic on low calorie line
- visitleicester.info: east midlands freeport
- gov.uk: maps of east midlands freeport tax sites
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Investment Zones Pack Dec 2025
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: maps of uk freeports
- Yield: PVGIS 5.3 (European Commission Joint Research Centre), SARAH3 data, 14% system losses, for the town centre, modelled 4 November 2026.
- Council area figures: DESNZ, renewable electricity by local authority 2014 to 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the electricity network operator in Ashby-de-la-Zouch?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands licence area). Most commercial solar systems need its G99 approval before they are switched on. The operator follows the postcode, so confirm yours with the Energy Networks Association postcode tool.
How much would a 100 kWp solar system generate in Ashby-de-la-Zouch?
About 97,500 kWh a year for a south-facing roof at 30 degrees, modelled with PVGIS for the town centre. At 70% used on site at 24p and the rest exported at 5p, that is worth about £17,843 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Ashby-de-la-Zouch get a free solar survey?
Yes. Answer six short questions and we match the site with one MCS certified installer, who surveys it on site or by video call. It is free, with no obligation. Get a free survey.
Related pages
- North West Leicestershire3,785 installations, 73.2 MW of solar and about 974 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East MidlandsNGED connections, Golden Triangle logistics, Lincolnshire farming and food processing, Derby manufacturing and the Nottingham Workplace Parking Levy.
- Commercial solar calculatorEstimate commercial solar savings and payback, with the generation, price and cost assumptions shown and sourced, and the limits of a simple estimate explained.
- EnglandCurrent solar support in England for businesses, schools, public bodies, community groups and farms, plus rates, planning and who to contact.
- Planning permissionPermitted development for commercial rooftop solar and car park canopies in England, prior approval, heritage limits, ground-mounted schemes and the other UK nations.