Key facts
| Council area | Cheshire East |
| Population | 30,005 (Congleton 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 | Congleton Business Park; Radnor Park Trading Estate; Viking Park |
| Indicative yield | About 903 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Congleton
- Congleton Business Park: Established business park in north Congleton; Cheshire East's local plan allocates around 10 hectares next to it for employment and commercial uses, plus about 3 hectares by the Congleton Link Road junction.
- Radnor Park Trading Estate: Existing trading estate where the local plan's Back Lane and Radnor Park site allocates around 7 hectares of new employment land alongside it, plus about 1 hectare by the Congleton Link Road junction.
- Viking Park: Clowes Developments' scheme, where MKM Building Supplies has opened and a second phase of trade counter units was nearing completion in November 2025; Sachet Factory leased a 9,000 sq ft unit there.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Electrical drives manufacturing (Siemens): In September 2026 Siemens' Congleton factory, which employs around 500 people, built its 10 millionth Sinamics variable speed drive, with daily output up from about 650 units in 2006 to nearly 2,400.
- Contract packing (Sachet Factory): In November 2025 stick pack specialist Sachet Factory leased a 9,000 sq ft unit at Viking Park, doubling its capacity with four machines able to make up to one million sachets a day.
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
Congleton 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 Congleton
Congleton follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Cheshire East 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:
- Cheshire East's local plan asks development at the Congleton Business Park extension to consider policy SE 14, which refuses development in the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope Consultation Zone that impairs the telescopes and aims to keep interference from electrical equipment to a minimum, so check early whether a site falls in the zone.
Our planning permission guide sets out the rules.
What a business roof in Congleton could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 903 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 90,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,170 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,355 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,525 |
| Simple payback | About 5.4 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 Congleton 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 Cheshire East
At the end of 2025, Cheshire East had 11,685 solar PV installations with 85.2 MW of capacity, up 65% since 2020, according to government figures. The Cheshire East page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Macclesfield, about 7 miles away
- Leek, about 9 miles away
- Crewe, about 11 miles away
- Winsford, about 14 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- cheshireeast.gov.uk: lps 26
- cheshireeast.gov.uk: lps 27
- congleton.nub.news: industry leading firm expands operations with move to
- themanufacturer.com: siemens congleton factory celebrates 10 million milestone
- cheshireeast.gov.uk: eg 3
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- gov.uk: maps of uk freeports
- congleton.nub.news: power cut affects congleton properties
- cheshireeast.gov.uk: se 14
- en.wikipedia.org: Congleton
- 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 Congleton?
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 Congleton?
About 90,300 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 £16,525 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Congleton 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
- Cheshire East11,685 installations, 85.2 MW of solar and about 909 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.