Key facts
| Council area | Wychavon |
| Population | 28,250 (Evesham built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Vale Park (Vale Business Park); Vale Park South |
| Indicative yield | About 985 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Evesham
- Vale Park (Vale Business Park): Evesham's main business park, where Karndean Designflooring has its showroom on Crab Apple Way. In 2018 Wychavon District Council partnered with Chase Commercial to develop about 28 acres of council land there, which could take over 500,000 sq ft of new business space; occupiers then included Primafruit, Travis Perkins and Karndean.
- Vale Park South: A 1.5 acre estate on Conference Way built in 2021, with 10 industrial units totalling 31,265 sq ft and quick access to the A46. Folkes Properties bought it in September 2025.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Fresh produce (Primafruit): In 2019 Primafruit, a fruit importer with a long-term Waitrose supply contract, opened a multi-million pound, 16,000 square metre extension to its Evesham site with banana ripening rooms; it then employed over 350 people and handled sales of more than £130 million a year.
- Prepared salads (Kanes Foods): Kanes Foods, registered at Cleeve Road, Middle Littleton near Evesham, makes fresh salads, stir-fry mixes, noodles, sauces and dressings for major UK grocery retailers, and in 2025 added a new iceberg lettuce line handling up to 1,400 kg an hour.
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
Evesham is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (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 Evesham
Evesham 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 Evesham Conservation Area covers about 31.6 hectares of the historic centre with 132 listed buildings, including seven at Grade I around the abbey, so check whether a building is inside it before planning roof panels.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Evesham could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 985 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 98,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,548 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,478 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,026 |
| 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 Evesham 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
- Stratford-upon-Avon, about 12 miles away
- Droitwich Spa, about 15 miles away
- Redditch, about 15 miles away
- Malvern, about 16 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- alderking.com: chase partners up with wychavon district council at
- karndean.com: evesham showroom
- folkesholdings.com: folkes properties expands industrial portfolio with acquisition of
- fruitnet.com: 178883.article
- perishablenews.com
- kanesfoods.co.uk: story
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: External HMRC IZs Information Pack FEB 26
- gov.uk: maps of freeports and freeport tax sites
- heritagecheck.co.uk: evesham
- 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 Evesham?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (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 Evesham?
About 98,500 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 £18,026 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Evesham 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.