Key facts
| Council area | West Northamptonshire |
| Population | 27,790 (Daventry built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Prologis Apex Park; Drayton Fields Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,012 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Daventry
- Prologis Apex Park: Prologis logistics park on the northern edge of Daventry, with access to the A45, M1 and M45. In March 2023 Prologis named Toolstation, JD Wetherspoon, Hellmann Logistics, Optima Logistics and Cummins among its customers there.
- Drayton Fields Industrial Estate: Established industrial estate about 1.5 miles north of the town centre. In April 2025 developer Rotherhill bought a detached 10,000 sq ft unit on Whittle Close there to refurbish, including re-coating the roof, aiming for an EPC B rating.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Rail freight and logistics (DIRFT): Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, about 6 miles north of the town, employs more than 10,000 people. In August 2025 West Northamptonshire Council said Prologis would build a 1.3 million sq ft, £340 million national distribution centre there for Marks & Spencer, with around 1,000 roles once operational.
- Tyre distribution (Hankook Tyre UK): In March 2023 Hankook Tyre UK said Daventry, including Apex Park, had been its main UK distribution hub, and agreed to take a new 357,221 sq ft unit on a 22-acre site there, due to complete in early 2024.
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
Daventry is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (East 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 Daventry
Daventry follows the national planning rules for England, decided by West Northamptonshire 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:
- Daventry Conservation Area, designated in 1968, covers about 18.4 hectares of the town centre and holds 63 listed buildings, including the Grade I Church of the Holy Cross and 11 Grade II* buildings, so roofs inside it need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Daventry could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,012 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 101,200 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,002 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,518 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,520 |
| 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 Daventry 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 West Northamptonshire
At the end of 2025, West Northamptonshire had 13,085 solar PV installations with 223.9 MW of capacity, up 60% since 2020, according to government figures. The West Northamptonshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Rugby, about 9 miles away
- Northampton, about 11 miles away
- Banbury, about 16 miles away
- Leamington Spa, about 16 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- hankooktire-mediacenter.com: hankook tyre uk signs up for new unit
- commercialnewsmedia.com
- westnorthants.gov.uk: prologis uk deliver flagship build suit facility marks
- en.wikipedia.org: Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal
- heritagecheck.co.uk: daventry
- 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 Daventry?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (East 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 Daventry?
About 101,200 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 £18,520 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Daventry 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
- West Northamptonshire13,085 installations, 223.9 MW of solar and about 1,014 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East MidlandsNGED connections, Golden Triangle logistics, Lincolnshire farming and food processing, Derby manufacturing and the Nottingham Workplace Parking Levy.
- 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.