Key facts
| Council area | County Durham |
| Population | 23,355 (Bishop Auckland built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (North East licence area) |
| Main employment areas | South Church Enterprise Park; St Helens Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 933 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Bishop Auckland
- South Church Enterprise Park: A Business Durham estate of industrial, workshop and commercial units with direct access to the A688, A689 and A1(M), suited to light industrial, manufacturing, storage and distribution firms. Business Durham says it currently has no units available.
- St Helens Industrial Estate: An estate of small workshop units on Auckland Crescent, on the A688 between Bishop Auckland and West Auckland, about 7 miles from the A1(M).
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Heritage and visitor attractions (The Auckland Project): Business Durham reports that new plans by The Auckland Project and 11Arches for more Kynren productions and a Binchester Roman Fort experience build on nearly £400 million already invested in Bishop Auckland, with the combined destination forecast to draw more than a million visitors a year.
- Healthcare (Bishop Auckland Hospital): County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust's Bishop Auckland Hospital runs an urgent treatment centre and a suite of clean air theatres supporting a centre of excellence for orthopaedic surgery.
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
Bishop Auckland is served by Northern Powergrid (North East 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 Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland follows the national planning rules for England, decided by County Durham 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 Bishop Auckland Conservation Area covers about 86.2 hectares and holds 69 listed buildings, eight of them Grade I including Auckland Castle, so roofs in the centre and around the castle need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Bishop Auckland could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 933 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 93,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,674 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,400 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,074 |
| Simple payback | About 5.3 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
- Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP), Durham County Council: Independent energy audits for eligible County Durham businesses, after which Durham Business Growth grants can cover up to 40% of costs on projects with a maximum total value of £9,999. BEEP lists solar PV among the improvements it has helped businesses plan. The council says funding is currently available but may be fully allocated before the programme's third phase ends in late 2026. Check the scheme's own page for eligibility and closing dates.
National reliefs apply too: see grants and reliefs in England.
Solar across County Durham
At the end of 2025, County Durham had 16,892 solar PV installations with 92.7 MW of capacity, up 73% since 2020, according to government figures. The County Durham page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Newton Aycliffe, about 5 miles away
- Darlington, about 11 miles away
- Consett, about 14 miles away
- Peterlee, about 15 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- businessdurham.co.uk: south church enterprise park
- mileway.com: st helens industrial estate
- businessdurham.co.uk: major new planning submission set to strengthen bishop
- cddft.nhs.uk: bishop auckland hospital
- northeast-ca.gov.uk: north east enterprise zones
- northeast-ca.gov.uk: north east investment zone
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- heritagecheck.co.uk: bishop auckland
- durham.gov.uk: beep
- 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 Bishop Auckland?
Northern Powergrid (North East 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 Bishop Auckland?
About 93,300 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 £17,074 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Bishop Auckland 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
- County Durham16,892 installations, 92.7 MW of solar and about 931 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- North EastNorthern Powergrid connections, the Tyneside Clean Air Zone, Teesside and Sunderland manufacturing, Tyne and Tees ports, and Northumberland farming.
- 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.