Key facts
| Council area | Burnley |
| Population | 78,255 (Burnley built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS, rounded to the nearest five)) |
| Network operator | Electricity North West (North West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Burnley Bridge Business Park; Vision Park; Network 65 Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 867 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Burnley
- Burnley Bridge Business Park: A 70 acre development directly next to junction 9 of the M65, providing 650,000 sq ft of industrial and distribution space. Occupiers include Birchall Foodservice, Exertis and Townsend Music.
- Vision Park: A 5 acre council owned and operated site next to junction 11 of the M65, completed in early 2018, with 17 advanced manufacturing units of 825 to 5,500 sq ft. The council says it is at full occupancy with a waiting list.
- Network 65 Business Park: Grade A office and industrial premises with direct access to the M65 at junction 9, with final phases completed in 2008. Occupiers include Glen Dimplex, Panaz and Pursuit Aerospace.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Aerospace (Safran Nacelles): Safran Nacelles, in Burnley for more than 70 years making nacelle systems for civil aircraft, raised turnover by 15.2% to £185.3 million and profit to £23.3 million in its accounts to December 2024.
- Manufacturing and engineering: Manufacturing and engineering account for 16% of Burnley's jobs, about 6,000 employees, and an Invest in Burnley report ranks the borough first in the country for the share of jobs in manufacturing.
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
Burnley 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 Burnley
Burnley follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Burnley 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 Burnley Town Centre Conservation Area covers about 11 hectares and holds 38 listed buildings, including the Grade II* Burnley Mechanics, so roofs in the centre need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Burnley could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 867 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 86,700 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,566 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,301 earned |
| Total a year | About £15,866 |
| Simple payback | About 5.7 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 Burnley 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 Burnley
At the end of 2025, Burnley had 1,644 solar PV installations with 8.3 MW of capacity, up 64% since 2020, according to government figures. The Burnley page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Nelson, about 4 miles away
- Accrington, about 6 miles away
- Clitheroe, about 8 miles away
- Blackburn, about 10 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- burnley.gov.uk: business parks
- lancashirebusinessview.co.uk: burnley aircraft firm sees profits soar
- lancashirebusinessview.co.uk: 16 per cent of burnley jobs in manufacturing
- investinlancashire.com: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- heritagecheck.co.uk: burnley town centre
- 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 Burnley?
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 Burnley?
About 86,700 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 £15,866 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Burnley 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
- Burnley1,644 installations, 8.3 MW of solar and about 862 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.