Key facts
| Council area | Cannock Chase |
| Population | 63,065 (Cannock built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS, rounded to the nearest five)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Kingswood Lakeside Business Park; Watling Street Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 950 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Cannock
- Kingswood Lakeside Business Park: An established business park off Blakeney Way. The council's local plan proposes an extension to its east (allocation SE1), on land that was part of the former Kingswood open cast coal mine, for about 500,000 sq ft of industrial and logistics space.
- Watling Street Business Park: An existing business park where the council's local plan proposes an extension on Green Belt land to its south (allocation SE2), promoted by the landowner Indurent.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Retail (Designer Outlet West Midlands): McArthurGlen's Designer Outlet West Midlands in Cannock opened in 2021, is now fully let and marked its fifth anniversary at Easter 2026, having welcomed over 15 million guests and taken nearly half a billion pounds in retail sales.
- Healthcare (Cannock Chase Hospital): In March 2026 NHS England provided £150,000 to expand cardiology services at the Community Diagnostic Centre at Cannock Chase Hospital on Brunswick Road, part of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
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
Cannock is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands 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 Cannock
Cannock follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Cannock Chase 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 Cannock Town Centre Conservation Area covers about 5 hectares and holds 11 listed buildings, three of them Grade II* including the Council House and the Parish Church of St Luke, so roofs around High Green need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Cannock could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 950 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 95,000 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,960 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,425 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,385 |
| Simple payback | About 5.2 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 Cannock 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 Cannock Chase
At the end of 2025, Cannock Chase had 2,484 solar PV installations with 10.7 MW of capacity, up 68% since 2020, according to government figures. The Cannock Chase page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Stafford, about 9 miles away
- Tamworth, about 15 miles away
- Uttoxeter, about 16 miles away
- Telford, about 17 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- cannockchasedc.gov.uk: Statement of Common Ground between Cannock Chase District
- cannockchasedc.gov.uk: Statement of Common Ground between Cannock Chase Council
- greaterbirminghamchambers.com: mcarthurglen west midlands celebrates five years in business
- royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk
- gov.uk: maps of west midlands investment zone tax sites
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- heritagecheck.co.uk: cannock 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 Cannock?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands 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 Cannock?
About 95,000 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 £17,385 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Cannock 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
- Cannock Chase2,484 installations, 10.7 MW of solar and about 950 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- West MidlandsNGED connections, the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, automotive and metals manufacturing, M6 and M42 logistics, and fruit and hop farming in the west.
- 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.