Key facts
| Council area | Blackburn with Darwen |
| Population | 124,955 (Blackburn built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Electricity North West (North West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Whitebirk Industrial Estate; Greenbank Business Park; Issa Way employment site |
| Indicative yield | About 884 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Blackburn
- Whitebirk Industrial Estate: An established industrial estate in east Blackburn that is home to H&T Presspart's registered office. In April 2026 Blackburn Chemicals applied to build a 29,600 sq ft building of three units off Croft Head Road there, with solar panels on the roof.
- Greenbank Business Park: A business park a few minutes from junction 6 of the M65, where the SIGMA units of 1,700 to 3,000 sq ft on Challenge Way and the OMEGA units of 11,500 to 73,500 sq ft were ready to let in 2024.
- Issa Way employment site: A 19 acre council owned site off Issa Way with direct links to the M65, near Perspex International, WEC Group and Chubb. In October 2025 Barnfield was named preferred developer for 246,000 sq ft of industrial space, with a planning application expected in 2026.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Respiratory drug delivery components (H&T Presspart): H&T Presspart, described in August 2025 as a global leader in components for respiratory drug delivery devices and a long standing local employer, runs its Inhalation Product Technology Centre in Blackburn.
- Tissue manufacturing (Euro Paper): In April 2025 tissue manufacturer Euro Paper was set to take the former 5.5 acre Graham & Brown India Mill plant in Blackburn, bringing about 150 new jobs.
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
Blackburn is served by Electricity North West (North 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 Blackburn
Blackburn follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Blackburn with Darwen 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 Cathedral Conservation Area in central Blackburn covers about 4.4 hectares and holds seven listed buildings, including the Grade II* Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin, so roofs near the cathedral need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Blackburn could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 884 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 88,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,851 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,326 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,177 |
| Simple payback | About 5.6 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 Blackburn 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 Blackburn with Darwen
At the end of 2025, Blackburn with Darwen had 3,667 solar PV installations with 15.9 MW of capacity, up 79% since 2020, according to government figures. The Blackburn with Darwen page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Accrington, about 5 miles away
- Preston, about 9 miles away
- Chorley, about 9 miles away
- Clitheroe, about 9 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- placenorthwest.co.uk: blackburn chemicals plans 30000 sq ft shed
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- lancashirebusinessview.co.uk: prime industrial developments in blackburn go to market
- lancashirebusinessview.co.uk: preferred developer named for strategic site
- lancashirebusinessview.co.uk: ht presspart joins blackburn darwen youth zone patron
- oindpnews.com: ht presspart opens low gwp mdi filling facility
- lancashirebusinessview.co.uk: tissue manufacturers to let former india mill site
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- heritagecheck.co.uk
- heritagecheck.co.uk: cathedral
- 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 Blackburn?
Electricity North West (North 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 Blackburn?
About 88,400 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 £16,177 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Blackburn 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
- Blackburn with Darwen3,667 installations, 15.9 MW of solar and about 873 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- North WestTwo network operators, realistic northern yields, Trafford Park, the Port of Liverpool, Cheshire chemicals and Cumbrian farming, and Greater Manchester's non-charging clean air plan.
- 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.