Key facts
| Council area | Torridge |
| Population | 19,490 (Bideford built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Caddsdown Industrial Park; Clovelly Road Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,035 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Bideford
- Caddsdown Industrial Park: Business park in Bideford where, in 2021, a block of 11 new workshop and warehouse units of 581 and 904 sq ft was being built; occupiers then included Torridge District Council, Screwfix and Toolstation.
- Clovelly Road Industrial Estate: Established trading estate off Clovelly Road, close to Atlantic Retail Village, Asda and Lidl, with a mix of industrial, office and leisure users. Its Innovation Court section has industrial units and offices built in 2020.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Shipbuilding (Navantia UK, Appledore): At its Appledore shipyard, within 3 miles of Bideford, Navantia UK laid the keel of RFA Resurgent, the first of three Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, on 3 September 2026.
- Port and clay exports: The town council describes Bideford as a working port where clay is the principal export, alongside a small fishing fleet and the MS Oldenburg service to Lundy Island.
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
Bideford is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West 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 Bideford
Bideford follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Torridge 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 Bideford Conservation Area runs west from the River Torridge to Pill Road, Old Town Road and Clovelly Road and as far as Torridge Hill, and a 2016 archaeological report counted 236 listed buildings within it, so roofs in the historic core need checking first.
- The national planning data register also lists a separate Bideford (Clovelly Road) conservation area, so check whether a site on that side of town falls inside it before planning visible panels.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Bideford could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,035 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 103,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,388 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,553 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,941 |
| 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 Bideford 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 Torridge
At the end of 2025, Torridge had 5,043 solar PV installations with 167.3 MW of capacity, up 60% since 2020, according to government figures. The Torridge page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Barnstaple, about 7 miles away
- Tiverton, about 32 miles away
- Newton Abbot, about 42 miles away
- Bridgend, about 43 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- jd-commercial.co.uk
- jd-commercial.co.uk: Units 3 and 4 Innovation Court
- maritime-executive.com: uk shipbuilding and rfa mark milestone as keel
- raksha-anirveda.com: navantia uk marks one year anniversary with strong
- bideford-tc.gov.uk: recent bideford history
- devon.gov.uk: economy
- gov.uk: maps of plymouth and south devon freeport tax
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- archaeologydataservice.ac.uk: southwes1 236720 1
- planning.data.gov.uk
- 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 Bideford?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West 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 Bideford?
About 103,500 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 £18,941 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Bideford 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
- Torridge5,043 installations, 167.3 MW of solar and about 1,019 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- South WestThe strongest yields in mainland Britain, a network with limited export capacity in places, Bristol and Bath clean air zones, dairy farming and Severnside logistics.
- 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.