Key facts
| Council area | Cotswold |
| Population | 17,715 (Cirencester built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Love Lane Industrial Estate; Cirencester Office Park (Smith's Field); Phoenix Way |
| Indicative yield | About 1,005 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Cirencester
- Love Lane Industrial Estate: The largest single employment site in Cirencester, about 28 hectares beside the A429 bypass, which a 2016 council study found held around 100 employers in light manufacturing, storage, trade counters, high tech and starter units. The local plan protects it as an established employment site.
- Cirencester Office Park (Smith's Field): A purpose built office park of modern three storey buildings on 1.14 hectares off Tetbury Road (A433) on the south western edge of the town, protected in the local plan as an established employment site.
- Phoenix Way: A medium sized office and light industrial area of 3.43 hectares off Sheep Street on the western edge of the town centre, with units ranging from modern sheds to stone clad offices, also protected in the local plan.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Wealth management (St. James's Place): St. James's Place plc has its registered office at St. James's Place House, 1 Tetbury Road, Cirencester, the same address the group's other companies use.
- Higher education (Royal Agricultural University): Founded as the Royal Agricultural College in 1845 and a university since 2013, the RAU has upwards of 1,100 students at its Cirencester campus.
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
Cirencester is served by SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution 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 Cirencester
Cirencester follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Cotswold 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 Cirencester Town Centre Conservation Area covers about 39.8 hectares and holds 193 listed buildings, two of them Grade I and 14 Grade II*, so roofs in the historic 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 Cirencester could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,005 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 100,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,884 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,508 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,392 |
| Simple payback | About 4.9 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 Cirencester 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 Cotswold
At the end of 2025, Cotswold had 3,409 solar PV installations with 99.3 MW of capacity, up 138% since 2020, according to government figures. The Cotswold page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Stroud, about 11 miles away
- Swindon, about 14 miles away
- Chippenham, about 19 miles away
- Witney, about 21 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- cotswold.gov.uk: 4105 economy study part 2 volume 2 employment
- sjp.co.uk: legal information
- rau.ac.uk: royal agricultural university celebrates 180th anniversary its
- heritagecheck.co.uk: cirencester town centre
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- gov.uk: maps of uk freeports
- 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 Cirencester?
SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution 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 Cirencester?
About 100,500 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 £18,392 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Cirencester 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
- Cotswold3,409 installations, 99.3 MW of solar and about 1,000 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- South WestThe strongest yields in mainland Britain, a network with limited export capacity in places, Bristol and Bath clean air zones, dairy farming and Severnside logistics.
- 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.