Key facts
| Council area | East Hertfordshire |
| Population | 40,915 (Bishop's Stortford built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Raynham Road; Woodside Industrial Estate; Bishop's Stortford South |
| Indicative yield | About 1,031 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Bishop's Stortford
- Raynham Road: The council's 2013 town employment study called Raynham Road, including The Links Business Centre, the most significant employment area in Bishop's Stortford, with older units at Raynham Road West then being redeveloped.
- Woodside Industrial Estate: Estate on Dunmow Road that the 2013 study scored highly, with Goodliffe Park, Stort Valley, Southmill and Stortford Hall, for good quality buildings and layout.
- Bishop's Stortford South: A new employment site delivered as part of the District Plan's strategic allocations, noted in the council's June 2026 report on the town's employment study.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Knowledge intensive business services: East Herts Council's June 2026 employment study report says the town has a high share of jobs in professional, scientific and technical, information and communication, and financial and insurance services, and could attract health, life sciences, advanced engineering and aerospace occupiers.
- Aviation (London Stansted): Nearby London Stansted, part of Manchester Airports Group, handled a record 29.8 million passengers in 2024 and began a £1.1bn expansion in 2025 expected to create about 5,000 jobs and include an on site solar farm.
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's Stortford 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 Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford follows the national planning rules for England, decided by East Hertfordshire 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's Stortford Conservation Area, designated in 1968, covers about 130.7 hectares and holds 77 listed buildings, two of them Grade I, so roofs across much of the centre need more care.
- The council's 2026 employment study warns that the age and quality of the town's office stock could make it hard to keep occupiers as future minimum energy efficiency standards come in, which makes energy upgrades such as solar more relevant for landlords.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Bishop's Stortford could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,031 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 103,100 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,321 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,547 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,867 |
| 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 Bishop's Stortford 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 East Hertfordshire
At the end of 2025, East Hertfordshire had 4,437 solar PV installations with 24.2 MW of capacity, up 112% since 2020, according to government figures. The East Hertfordshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Harlow, about 7 miles away
- Stevenage, about 16 miles away
- Braintree, about 17 miles away
- Hatfield, about 18 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- eastherts.gov.uk: EER.007 Townwide Employment Study for Bishops Stortford
- democracy.eastherts.gov.uk: Bishops Stortford Employment Study
- hertfordshire.gov.uk: bishops stortford sawbridgeworth town evidence pack executive summary.docx
- cityam.com
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: freeports
- gov.uk: maps of freeports and freeport tax sites
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- heritagecheck.co.uk: bishops stortford
- 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's Stortford?
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 Bishop's Stortford?
About 103,100 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 £18,867 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Bishop's Stortford 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
- East Hertfordshire4,437 installations, 24.2 MW of solar and about 1,031 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.