Key facts
| Council area | East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Population | 34,845 (Bridlington built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Bridlington Business Park; Carnaby Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 970 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Bridlington
- Bridlington Business Park: Multi-let trade, industrial and storage estate on Bessingby Way with units from 1,000 to 15,000 sq ft, bought by MCR Property Group in November 2021. MCR put £3.7m into modernising the northern part of the site with 22 new units; occupiers include Screwfix and Wren Kitchens.
- Carnaby Industrial Estate: Industrial estate on Lancaster Road at Carnaby, just outside Bridlington. Caravan maker Carnaby Caravans, incorporated in 1976, has its registered office there.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Shellfish landings: In 2021 East Riding of Yorkshire Council described Bridlington as the largest lobster port in the UK and Europe; about £10 million of shellfish was landed at the harbour in 2019, including 311 tonnes of lobster and 2,669 tonnes of crab.
- Malting (Muntons): Maltster Muntons, headquartered in Stowmarket, describes its plant at Bridlington as its main maltings.
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
Bridlington is served by Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire 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 Bridlington
Bridlington follows the national planning rules for England, decided by East Riding of Yorkshire 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 Bridlington Old Town Conservation Area, designated in 1969, covers about 29 hectares and holds 108 listed buildings, including the Grade I Priory Church of St Mary and the Bayle Gate, so roofs in the Old Town need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Bridlington could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 970 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 97,000 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,296 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,455 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,751 |
| Simple payback | About 5.1 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 Bridlington 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 Riding of Yorkshire
At the end of 2025, East Riding of Yorkshire had 12,659 solar PV installations with 225.8 MW of capacity, up 261% since 2020, according to government figures. The East Riding of Yorkshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Beverley, about 19 miles away
- Grimsby, about 36 miles away
- Goole, about 38 miles away
- Scunthorpe, about 39 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- mcrproperty.com: bridlington business park
- bridlington.mcrproperty.com
- pph-commercial.co.uk: 3 7m investment could create 200 jobs boost
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- eastriding-newsroom.prgloo.com: lobster turns the tide for bridlington bay
- bfbi.org.uk: muntons practical sustainability
- heritagecheck.co.uk: bridlington old town
- 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 Bridlington?
Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire 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 Bridlington?
About 97,000 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 £17,751 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Bridlington 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 Riding of Yorkshire12,659 installations, 225.8 MW of solar and about 968 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- Yorkshire and the HumberNorthern Powergrid connections, Sheffield and Bradford clean air zones, Humber ports and industry, M62 and M1 logistics, and East Riding arable 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.