Key facts
| Council area | Calderdale |
| Population | 88,115 (Halifax built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) |
| Main employment areas | Dean Clough; Holmfield Industrial Estate; Halifax Industrial Estate, Pellon Lane; Lee Bridge Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 922 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Halifax
- Dean Clough: A 22 acre former carpet mill complex on the edge of the town centre, turned into a business park in the 1980s, with over 150 organisations and around 4,000 people working there.
- Holmfield Industrial Estate: Industrial estate in the northern part of Halifax.
- Halifax Industrial Estate, Pellon Lane: Trade counter and light industrial units on Pellon Lane, west of the centre.
- Lee Bridge Industrial Estate: Small industrial units at Lee Bridge, HX3, beside Dean Clough.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Banking (Lloyds Banking Group): Lloyds Banking Group's Trinity Road office is its main Yorkshire hub, with some 3,000 staff, after a £116m rebuild that reopened in December 2025.
- Confectionery (Nestle): Nestle's Halifax factory makes Quality Street, After Eight, Rolo and Munchies and employs more than 550 people.
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
Halifax is served by Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire). 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 Halifax
Halifax follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Calderdale 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 Halifax Town Centre Conservation Area was designated on 23 October 1974.
- Green Belt surrounds the town; Calderdale's 2017 Green Belt review of the Halifax area found most parcels perform well against Green Belt purposes.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas, green belt explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Halifax could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 922 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 92,200 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,490 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,383 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,873 |
| Simple payback | About 5.3 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 Halifax 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 Calderdale
At the end of 2025, Calderdale had 3,959 solar PV installations with 19.5 MW of capacity, up 88% since 2020, according to government figures. The Calderdale page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Huddersfield, about 6 miles away
- Harrogate, about 23 miles away
- Crewe, about 49 miles away
- Scunthorpe, about 51 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: Halifax, West Yorkshire
- en.wikipedia.org: List of ONS built up areas in England
- bdaily.co.uk: dean clough celebrates surge in lettings
- calderdalecompanion.co.uk: mmd12
- planning.data.gov.uk: brownfield land:BLR104
- northernfinancialreview.com: lloyds banking group invests 116m in halifax hq
- itv.com: halifax brand scrapped after 173 years as customers
- nestle.co.uk: kate dearden mp visits nestlé halifax factory
- calderdalenextchapter.co.uk: clifton business park
- planning.data.gov.uk
- new.calderdale.gov.uk: Planning local plan green belt halifax 2017
- new.calderdale.gov.uk: Climate action partnership minutes 1 oct 2025
- 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 Halifax?
Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire). 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 Halifax?
About 92,200 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 £16,873 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Halifax 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
- Calderdale3,959 installations, 19.5 MW of solar and about 887 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- Yorkshire and the HumberNorthern Powergrid connections, Sheffield and Bradford clean air zones, Humber ports and industry, M62 and M1 logistics, and East Riding arable farming.
- 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.