Key facts
| Council area | King's Lynn and West Norfolk |
| Population | 47,615 (King's Lynn built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | King's Lynn Enterprise Park (Nar Ouse); Hardwick Industrial Estate; North Lynn Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,022 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in King's Lynn
- King's Lynn Enterprise Park (Nar Ouse): The council's 15 hectare business park south of the town centre near the A10, A17 and A47, beside the King's Lynn Innovation Centre. In June 2026 the council said its units were about 75% occupied after Norfolk Natural Living moved in.
- Hardwick Industrial Estate: The largest of the four main industrial estates in King's Lynn, by the Hardwick Roundabout where the A47, A10 and A17 bypass meet, next to Pierpoint Retail Park.
- North Lynn Industrial Estate: Industrial estate off the Northern Bypass, minutes from the docks and town centre, where the council lets warehouse units and Bespak and Williams Refrigeration are among the major employers.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Paper and packaging (Palm Paper): Palm is converting its PM 7 machine at King's Lynn from newsprint to corrugated case material, with the work scheduled for the first quarter of 2027 and output of up to 700,000 tonnes a year.
- Medical devices (Bespak): Bespak's King's Lynn site is a leading global supplier of pressurised metered dose inhaler valves and actuators and dry powder inhaler devices, and the company became independent of Recipharm in 2024.
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
King's Lynn 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 King's Lynn
King's Lynn follows the national planning rules for England, decided by King's Lynn and West Norfolk 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 King's Lynn Conservation Area, first designated in 1969, covers about 75.6 hectares of the historic centre and holds 281 listed buildings, 13 of them Grade I, so roofs in the old town need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in King's Lynn could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,022 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 102,200 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,170 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,533 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,703 |
| Simple payback | About 4.8 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 King's Lynn 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
At the end of 2025, King's Lynn and West Norfolk had 6,705 solar PV installations with 137.3 MW of capacity, up 43% since 2020, according to government figures. The King's Lynn and West Norfolk page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Wisbech, about 12 miles away
- March, about 19 miles away
- Spalding, about 23 miles away
- Boston, about 24 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- west-norfolk.gov.uk: kings lynn enterprise park welcomes its latest tenant
- west-norfolk.gov.uk: enterprise zone
- west-norfolk.gov.uk: unit 1 paxman road
- west-norfolk.gov.uk: unit 24 bergen way
- thepackagingportal.com: palm to convert kings lynn paper machine to
- voith.com: 2026 07 29 voith and palm jointly implement
- biospace.com: bespak confirms completion of inhaled and nasal drug
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- ipswich.gov.uk: pscd25 ez brochure 16 sites light purple final
- gov.uk: freeports
- gov.uk: maps of freeports and freeport tax sites
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- heritagecheck.co.uk: kings lynn
- 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 King's Lynn?
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 King's Lynn?
About 102,200 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 £18,703 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in King's Lynn 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
- King's Lynn and West Norfolk6,705 installations, 137.3 MW of solar and about 1,018 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.