Key facts
| Council area | Hinckley and Bosworth |
| Population | 50,725 (Hinckley built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands) |
| Main employment areas | Hinckley Park; Sketchley Lane Industrial Estate; Brindley Road and Dodwells Bridge |
| 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 Hinckley
- Hinckley Park: Logistics park beside junction 1 of the M69. Occupiers include a 532,500 sq ft Amazon warehouse and a 318,254 sq ft DPD parcel depot.
- Sketchley Lane Industrial Estate: Industrial estate on the A5 just over a mile from the M69, sharing its roundabout access with Logix Park. The council's Sketchley Meadows part has 26 units of 814 to 2,312 sq ft.
- Brindley Road and Dodwells Bridge: A large employment area about a mile west of the town centre, near the A5 junction with easy access to the M69 and M42. It includes the council's Hinckley Business Park units on Brindley Road.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Logistics and parcel distribution: Hinckley Park holds an Amazon warehouse and a DPD depot described as the largest automated parcel depot in Europe.
- Automotive and mobility research (MIRA Technology Park): HORIBA MIRA's technology park in the borough has more than 35 companies on a campus of over 1,000 acres with 40 test facilities, focused on mobility, clean energy and defence technology.
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
Hinckley is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands). 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 Hinckley
Hinckley follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Hinckley and Bosworth 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 Hinckley Town Centre Conservation Area, designated in April 1986, is centred on Castle Street and Regent Street and includes listed buildings such as St Mary's Parish Church and the 17th century framework knitters' cottages on Lower Bond Street.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Hinckley 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 Hinckley 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 Hinckley and Bosworth
At the end of 2025, Hinckley and Bosworth had 3,735 solar PV installations with 60.8 MW of capacity, up 30% since 2020, according to government figures. The Hinckley and Bosworth page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Nuneaton, about 4 miles away
- Rugby, about 12 miles away
- Coalville, about 12 miles away
- Ashby-de-la-Zouch, about 15 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: List of ONS built up areas in England
- cumming-group.com: hinckley park
- moderngov.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk: 01 Commercial Property report June 2022 FINAL 110722
- miratechpark.com
- horiba-mira.com
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk: hinckley town centre conservation area
- 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 Hinckley?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands). 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 Hinckley?
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 Hinckley 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
- Hinckley and Bosworth3,735 installations, 60.8 MW of solar and about 982 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.