Key facts
| Council area | Central Bedfordshire |
| Population | 34,500 (Dunstable built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Woodside Industrial Estate; Nimbus Park |
| Indicative yield | About 1,013 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Dunstable
- Woodside Industrial Estate: A 96 acre estate with about 1.4 million sq ft in 34 units of roughly 30,000 to 100,000 sq ft. Occupiers include Twinplast and ML Accessories, and Signature Flatbreads has expanded there.
- Nimbus Park: A seven unit industrial estate owned by Orchard Street. In December 2023 world foods wholesaler Shankar Foods took a five year lease on a 28,936 sq ft unit there.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Bakery (Signature Flatbreads): Dunstable based Signature Flatbreads said in September 2024 that it employed more than 2,000 people, baked over two billion breads a year and had a £200 million turnover the previous year. It also said it planned to invest more than £150 million over the next few years and create more than 500 jobs across its UK and Indian bakeries.
- Online retail logistics (Amazon): Amazon's fulfilment centre on Boscombe Road opened in autumn 2015, and when it was officially opened in September 2016 it had more than 1,500 permanent roles.
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
Dunstable is served by UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks 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 Dunstable
Dunstable follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Central Bedfordshire 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:
- Dunstable Conservation Area, designated in 1976, covers about 28.1 hectares of the town centre and holds 49 listed buildings, including the Grade I Priory Church of St Peter and Priory Gateway, 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 Dunstable could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,013 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 101,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,018 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,520 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,538 |
| 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 Dunstable 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 Central Bedfordshire
At the end of 2025, Central Bedfordshire had 8,915 solar PV installations with 120.7 MW of capacity, up 34% since 2020, according to government figures. The Central Bedfordshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Leighton Buzzard, about 6 miles away
- Hemel Hempstead, about 9 miles away
- Aylesbury, about 13 miles away
- Stevenage, about 14 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- woodsidedunstable.com
- warehousenews.co.uk: orchard street secures industrial letting
- businessmk.co.uk: food manufacturer unveils plans for 150m investment creating
- becentralbedfordshire.co.uk: official opening of amazon s dunstable fulfilment centre
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- en.wikipedia.org: Freeports in the United Kingdom
- heritagecheck.co.uk: dunstable
- 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 Dunstable?
UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks 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 Dunstable?
About 101,300 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 £18,538 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Dunstable 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
- Central Bedfordshire8,915 installations, 120.7 MW of solar and about 1,016 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East of EnglandUK Power Networks connections, strong yields, the Felixstowe and A14 logistics corridor, arable farming and food processing across Norfolk, Suffolk and the Fens.
- 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.