Key facts
| Council area | Bedford |
| Population | 97,235 (Bedford built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Bedford Commercial Park; Murdock Road, Singer Way and Brooklands industrial estates |
| Indicative yield | About 1,021 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Bedford
- Bedford Commercial Park: Goodman's industrial and warehouse park beside the A421, about seven miles from junction 13 of the M1. Its occupiers include Amazon, Expeditors and the council's i-Worx Engineering Hub, and in 2024 Comline Group agreed to move its UK headquarters into a 70,000 sq ft unit there with rooftop solar PV.
- Murdock Road, Singer Way and Brooklands industrial estates: Three industrial estates where Bedford Borough Council lets its own units, ranging from about 650 sq ft to 7,000 sq ft.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Leisure and tourism (Universal theme park): In January 2026 Universal's UK theme park on the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks site in Bedford was given the planning green light: part of a 476 acre resort expected to bring about 20,000 construction jobs, with opening targeted for 2031.
- Logistics and distribution: In January 2026 Hillwood agreed to buy a 10.6 acre brownfield site on Interchange Way, Kempston, from Arqiva and Bedford Borough Council, with outline consent and plans to build a speculative 100,000 sq ft distribution or manufacturing unit in 2026.
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
Bedford is served by UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks 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 Bedford
Bedford follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Bedford 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:
- Bedford Borough has 29 conservation areas. The Bedford Conservation Area covering the town centre is large and is split into 14 character sub-areas, from St Paul's Square and the town centre streets to Goldington Road and Russell Park, so roofs in and around 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 Bedford could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,021 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 102,100 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,153 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,532 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,684 |
| 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 Bedford 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 Bedford
At the end of 2025, Bedford had 4,915 solar PV installations with 89.3 MW of capacity, up 26% since 2020, according to government figures. The Bedford page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- St Neots, about 11 miles away
- Rushden, about 12 miles away
- Wellingborough, about 15 miles away
- Leighton Buzzard, about 17 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- commercialnewsmedia.com
- bedford.gov.uk: property let
- bedford.gov.uk: invest bedford overview
- acenet.co.uk: planning green light for universal s uk theme
- hillwood.com
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: freeports
- gov.uk: maps of freeports and freeport tax sites
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- bedford.gov.uk: historic areas and buildings
- bedford.gov.uk: download
- 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 Bedford?
UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks 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 Bedford?
About 102,100 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 £18,684 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Bedford 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
- Bedford4,915 installations, 89.3 MW of solar and about 1,023 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East of EnglandUK Power Networks connections, strong yields, the Felixstowe and A14 logistics corridor, arable farming and food processing across Norfolk, Suffolk and the Fens.
- 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.