Key facts
| Council area | Wakefield |
| Population | 45,355 (Castleford built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) |
| Main employment areas | Wakefield Europort; Glasshoughton (Whistler Drive) |
| Indicative yield | About 958 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Castleford
- Wakefield Europort: Logistics park at junction 31 of the M62 between Normanton and Castleford, with a high capacity rail freight terminal. Panattoni is building Wakefield 500 there, a 490,771 sq ft speculative unit due in Q2 2027.
- Glasshoughton (Whistler Drive): Distribution area off junction 32 of the M62 on the former Glasshoughton colliery, where Puma took a 261,000 sq ft warehouse on a 13 acre site in 2019. Plans for another warehouse off Whistler Drive and Steamboat Way were submitted in March 2026, with neighbours including Really Useful Products, Teva UK and IFCO Systems.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Luxury clothing (Burberry): Burberry makes its trench coats at its manufacturing site in Castleford, from gabardine woven at its mill in Keighley.
- Logistics: Plans for another distribution warehouse in Castleford were submitted in March 2026, next to occupiers including Puma, Really Useful Products, Teva UK and IFCO Systems.
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
Castleford is served by Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire). 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 Castleford
Castleford follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Wakefield 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:
- Wakefield Council approved a new, community-led Castleford conservation area in February 2026, recognising the town's industrial heritage.
- Almost 70% of the Wakefield district, which includes Castleford, is designated green belt.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas, green belt explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Castleford could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 958 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 95,800 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,094 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,437 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,531 |
| 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 Castleford 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 Wakefield
At the end of 2025, Wakefield had 10,669 solar PV installations with 50.5 MW of capacity, up 97% since 2020, according to government figures. The Wakefield page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Wakefield, about 7 miles away
- Dewsbury, about 12 miles away
- Selby, about 12 miles away
- Barnsley, about 13 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: List of ONS built up areas in England
- panattoni.co.uk: Panattoni Wakefield 500 Brochure
- warehousenews.co.uk: barwood capital pounces on its largest letting to
- int.burberry.com: its always burberry weather trench campaign
- wakefieldfirst.com: plans submitted for warehouse bigger than a football
- wakefield.gov.uk: wakefield council safeguards heritage areas across the district
- wakefield.gov.uk: stats facts and maps
- gov.uk: boost for uks life sciences sector as west
- localgov.co.uk
- wakefield.gov.uk: localplan
- 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 Castleford?
Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire). 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 Castleford?
About 95,800 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 £17,531 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Castleford 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
- Wakefield10,669 installations, 50.5 MW of solar and about 959 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.