Key facts
| Council area | Warwick |
| Population | 51,310 (Royal Leamington Spa built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands) |
| Main employment areas | Tachbrook Park; Spa Park |
| Indicative yield | About 995 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Leamington Spa
- Tachbrook Park: Business park serving Warwick and Leamington Spa whose occupiers include Wolseley, Leamington Shopping Park, a Holiday Inn and Jaguar.
- Spa Park: Nine units totalling about 500,000 sq ft off Tachbrook Road, near junctions 14 and 15 of the M40, fully let by January 2026. Occupiers include General Motors, Berry Global, Bladon Micro Turbines and Wickes.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Video games (Silicon Spa): Leamington has a UK leading video games development cluster close to the headquarters of Codemasters and Xbox studio Playground Games. The Old Town is being regenerated as a Creative Quarter for the industry, from 2022 to 2028.
- Automotive, engineering and distribution: Spa Park's tenants include General Motors, Bladon Micro Turbines and Berry Global, with new 10 year lettings to HeliosX and AMS Distribution Centre in 2026.
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
Leamington Spa is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (West 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 Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Warwick 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:
- Warwick District Council's guide to Leamington's conservation areas shows many Regency terraces in the centre listed Grade II or II*, with building colours controlled by Article 4 Directions in streets such as Bath Street.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Leamington Spa could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 995 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 99,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,716 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,493 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,209 |
| Simple payback | About 4.9 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 Leamington Spa 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 Warwick
At the end of 2025, Warwick had 4,818 solar PV installations with 63.6 MW of capacity, up 173% since 2020, according to government figures. The Warwick page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Stratford-upon-Avon, about 10 miles away
- Rugby, about 13 miles away
- Daventry, about 16 miles away
- Nuneaton, about 16 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: List of ONS built up areas in England
- commercialnewsmedia.com
- wmca.org.uk: creative quarter royal leamington spa
- warwickdc.gov.uk: leamington guide to conservation areas
- warwickshire.gov.uk: wbeas
- 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 Leamington Spa?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (West 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 Leamington Spa?
About 99,500 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 £18,209 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Leamington Spa 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
- Warwick4,818 installations, 63.6 MW of solar and about 989 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.