Key facts
| Council area | Ribble Valley |
| Population | 16,630 (Clitheroe 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 | Salthill Industrial Estate; Barrow Brook Business Village |
| Indicative yield | About 874 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Clitheroe
- Salthill Industrial Estate: Clitheroe's industrial area off Salthill Road, where Ribble Valley Borough Council's employment land monitor reported James Alpe's workshop and warehouse units on the former golf driving range as partly built and occupied, taking up 1.85 hectares.
- Barrow Brook Business Village: Business village just off the A59 on the outskirts of Clitheroe, with trade park units, offices, a nursery, a service area and food outlets; the council identified adjoining land at Barrow Brook as strategic employment land.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Cement (Heidelberg Materials Ribblesdale works): Heidelberg Materials UK runs the Ribblesdale cement works on West Bradford Road, and in April 2025 Lancashire County Council approved an amendment to the dimensions of new filters being installed there.
- Roof systems (Ultraframe): Ultraframe, which designs and makes conservatory and extension roof systems, has its headquarters in Clitheroe; in July 2021, after more than 35 years making roofs there, it took a new 60,000 sq ft facility near its 350,000 sq ft Ribble Valley headquarters.
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
Clitheroe 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 Clitheroe
Clitheroe follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Ribble Valley 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 Clitheroe Conservation Area covers about 31.8 hectares and holds 97 listed buildings, including the Grade I Clitheroe Castle and the Grade II* Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, 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 Clitheroe could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 874 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 87,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,683 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,311 earned |
| Total a year | About £15,994 |
| Simple payback | About 5.6 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 Clitheroe 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 Ribble Valley
At the end of 2025, Ribble Valley had 1,918 solar PV installations with 19.0 MW of capacity, up 43% since 2020, according to government figures. The Ribble Valley page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Nelson, about 7 miles away
- Burnley, about 8 miles away
- Accrington, about 9 miles away
- Blackburn, about 9 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- ribblevalley.gov.uk: agenda item 9 employment land monitor
- heidelbergmaterials.co.uk: ribblesdale
- planningregister.lancashire.gov.uk: 0017NM1
- trade.ultraframe-conservatories.co.uk: Ultraframe Expands
- ultraframe-conservatories.co.uk: jobs
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- heritagecheck.co.uk: clitheroe
- 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 Clitheroe?
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 Clitheroe?
About 87,400 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 £15,994 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Clitheroe 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
- Ribble Valley1,918 installations, 19.0 MW of solar and about 874 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.