Key facts
| Council area | Basingstoke and Deane |
| Population | 117,210 (Basingstoke built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution) |
| Main employment areas | Basing View; Chineham Park; Daneshill Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,030 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Basingstoke
- Basing View: A 65 acre business park a short walk from the railway station and town centre, home to more than 180 businesses and about 4,500 workers. Occupiers include Network Rail, The AA, BNP Paribas, WSP, Wates and the Ministry of Defence.
- Chineham Park: An 815,000 sq ft business park north of Basingstoke near the A33, M3 and M4, linked to the station and town centre by a shuttle bus. Occupiers include Instavolt, which has over 10,000 sq ft there, and Wates.
- Daneshill Industrial Estate: Long-established industrial estate about a mile north-east of the town centre. Major occupiers include Mars Drinks, DHL, Pickfords, Jewson, Hertz and Booker.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Pharmaceuticals (Eli Lilly): Eli Lilly's UK headquarters is a new five-storey, 45,000 sq ft building at Basing View, keeping hundreds of high value jobs in the town.
- Head offices and business services: Basing View alone holds more than 180 national and international businesses, including The AA, Network Rail, BNP Paribas and WSP, with about 4,500 people working there.
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
Basingstoke is served by SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution). 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 Basingstoke
Basingstoke follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Basingstoke and Deane 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 Basingstoke Town Conservation Area, first designated in 1977, covers the historic core including Top of the Town, Church Square and Winchester Road. Its appraisal and management plan was adopted in 2015, and an Article 4 Direction removes some permitted development rights there.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Basingstoke could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,030 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 103,000 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,304 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,545 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,849 |
| Simple payback | About 4.8 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 Basingstoke 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 Basingstoke and Deane
At the end of 2025, Basingstoke and Deane had 5,437 solar PV installations with 80.2 MW of capacity, up 126% since 2020, according to government figures. The Basingstoke and Deane page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Newbury, about 14 miles away
- Aldershot, about 14 miles away
- Farnborough, about 14 miles away
- Andover, about 17 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: List of ONS built up areas in England
- basingstoke.gov.uk: basingview
- basingstoke.gov.uk: businessproperty
- frasersproperty.com: fpuk welcomes three new companies in a series
- morgansindallconstruction.com: pharma giant moves into new basingstoke hq
- arenaoffices.com: arena basingstoke benefits from enterprise zone status
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- basingstoke.gov.uk: rte
- 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 Basingstoke?
SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution). 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 Basingstoke?
About 103,000 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 £18,849 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Basingstoke 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
- Basingstoke and Deane5,437 installations, 80.2 MW of solar and about 1,026 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- South EastTwo network operators, strong south coast yields, Kent horticulture, Thames Valley offices and Solent logistics, and the clean air zones that affect fleets.
- 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.