Key facts
| Council area | Kirklees |
| Population | 141,675 (Huddersfield built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) |
| Main employment areas | Lindley Moor (Summit 24 Business Park); Park Valley Mills, Lockwood; Fieldhouse Business Park, Leeds Road |
| Enterprise or investment zone | Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone (M62 corridor): Lindley Moor East and West sites, Huddersfield |
| Indicative yield | About 925 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Huddersfield
- Lindley Moor (Summit 24 Business Park): Enterprise Zone employment land by junction 24 of the M62. Lindley Moor West is developed and occupied by Lesjofors Springs, Rybrook and Mac's Trucks; Lindley Moor East is a further 6.3 hectare site.
- Park Valley Mills, Lockwood: A 13 acre historic mill site off Meltham Road redeveloped into modern industrial units with office and storage space.
- Fieldhouse Business Park, Leeds Road: A £7m business park off the A62 Leeds Road, close to the John Smith's Stadium trade counter area.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Engineering (Cummins Turbo Technologies): Cummins Turbo Technologies has its European headquarters and technical centre on St Andrew's Road, and has fitted 256 solar panels there.
- Gear manufacturing (David Brown Santasalo): David Brown Santasalo makes gears and gearboxes at Park Works, its largest UK gear manufacturing site, and listed among the top Kirklees companies in 2024.
- Higher education (University of Huddersfield): The University of Huddersfield is described as the town's largest employer.
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.
Enterprise, investment and freeport zones
- Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone (M62 corridor): Lindley Moor East and West sites, Huddersfield: Enterprise Zone designations run to 2042 according to the Combined Authority's enterprise zones page.
These zones can bring business rates relief or enhanced capital allowances for eligible firms on qualifying sites; check the current terms with the zone before relying on them.
Grid connection
Huddersfield 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 Huddersfield
Huddersfield follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Kirklees 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:
- Almost all of the centre inside the A62 ring road is the Huddersfield Town Centre Conservation Area, designated in 1981 and on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register since 2020.
- Green Belt covers about 70% of Kirklees outside the national park, so ground-mounted schemes on the edge of town face Green Belt policy.
- About 11% of Kirklees lies inside the Peak District National Park, to the south west of the town, where the national park authority decides planning.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas, green belt, national parks and National Landscapes explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Huddersfield could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 925 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 92,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,540 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,388 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,928 |
| 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 Huddersfield 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 Kirklees
At the end of 2025, Kirklees had 9,790 solar PV installations with 40.9 MW of capacity, up 75% since 2020, according to government figures. The Kirklees page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Halifax, about 6 miles away
- Harrogate, about 26 miles away
- Crewe, about 47 miles away
- Scunthorpe, about 47 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: Huddersfield
- en.wikipedia.org: List of ONS built up areas in England
- bdaily.co.uk: lesjofors springs reaches the summit with acquisition of
- [democracy.kirklees.gov.uk: Item 13 Pre App 2020 20447](https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s39915/Item 13 - Pre App 2020-20447.pdf)
- westyorks-ca.gov.uk: lindley moor east
- bdaily.co.uk: phase one of historic huddersfield mill site now
- examiner.co.uk: tenants move 7m business park 5093195
- examiner.co.uk: cummins turbo technologies drives ahead 8414760
- pay.company-information.service.gov.uk
- geartechnology.com: david brown santasalo listed as top 100 kirklees
- kirklees.gov.uk: conservation consultation
- kirklees.gov.uk: SD19 Kirklees Local Plan Green Belt Review April
- kirklees.gov.uk: green belt review 2016
- 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 Huddersfield?
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 Huddersfield?
About 92,500 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 £16,928 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Huddersfield 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
- Kirklees9,790 installations, 40.9 MW of solar and about 927 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.