Key facts
| Council area | Wychavon |
| Population | 26,420 (Droitwich Spa built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Stonebridge Cross Business Park; Potter Space Droitwich |
| Indicative yield | About 982 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Droitwich Spa
- Stonebridge Cross Business Park: An Indurent business and industrial park on Pointon Way at Hampton Lovett, off the A442 about 4 miles from M5 Junction 5, with industrial, warehouse and manufacturing buildings for national and international occupiers. Armstrong Fluid Technology's factory and Vax's 231,000 sq ft warehouse are here.
- Potter Space Droitwich: A business park off Kidderminster Road at Cutnall Green, north of the town. In 2023 Potter Space won outline planning for up to three more industrial units totalling 96,000 sq ft, and in late 2025 Armstrong Fluid Technology took its 24,400 sq ft Unit 103.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Packaged plant rooms (Armstrong Fluid Technology): Armstrong moved its West Midlands factory to a 69,000 sq ft site on Pointon Way in 2021 and in December 2025 added a 24,400 sq ft unit at Potter Space, describing the Droitwich factory as a centre of excellence for packaged plant rooms.
- Floor care appliances (Vax): In 2018 Vax moved about 130 Birmingham office staff to Artillery House in Droitwich, near its 231,000 sq ft warehouse at Stonebridge Cross; Companies House still lists Artillery House, Droitwich as its registered office.
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
Droitwich Spa 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 Droitwich Spa
Droitwich Spa follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Wychavon 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 Droitwich Spa conservation area was designated in November 1974 and extended in 1980, with an appraisal and management plan adopted by Wychavon in September 2013 that guards the character of the historic salt town, 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 Droitwich Spa could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 982 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 98,200 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,498 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,473 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,971 |
| Simple payback | About 5.0 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 Droitwich Spa 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 Wychavon
At the end of 2025, Wychavon had 6,437 solar PV installations with 226.3 MW of capacity, up 197% since 2020, according to government figures. The Wychavon page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Redditch, about 9 miles away
- Kidderminster, about 9 miles away
- Malvern, about 13 miles away
- Evesham, about 15 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- indurent.com
- commercialnewsmedia.com
- thebusinessdesk.com: 2075420 planning secured for 96000 sq ft of
- acr-news.com: armstrong boosts uk operations in droitwich
- blog.armstrongfluidtechnology.com: armstrong fluid technology continues uk expansion
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: maps of uk freeports
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Investment Zones Pack Dec 2025
- wychavon.gov.uk: Droitwich Spa
- 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 Droitwich Spa?
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 Droitwich Spa?
About 98,200 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 £17,971 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Droitwich Spa 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
- Wychavon6,437 installations, 226.3 MW of solar and about 994 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- West MidlandsNGED connections, the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, automotive and metals manufacturing, M6 and M42 logistics, and fruit and hop farming in the west.
- 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.