Key facts
| Council area | Herefordshire |
| Population | 11,205 (Leominster built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Leominster Enterprise Park; Southern Avenue |
| Indicative yield | About 975 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Leominster
- Leominster Enterprise Park: A 12 hectare park of 29 indicative plots off Brierley Way south of the town, protected for employment use under county planning policy; in 2022 National Highways applied to build an A49 maintenance depot on two of its plots.
- Southern Avenue: One of Leominster's employment sites on Herefordshire Council's list, next to the Enterprise Park. Its occupiers include equestrian goods firm Shires (M J Ainge and Co) at Agricon House, which had permission in 2020 to extend its covered yard.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Crisp making (Tyrrells): In August 2026 Tyrrells' Leominster site, owned by KP Snacks, had around 130 workers making potato crisps on the farm where the brand was founded in 2002.
- Equestrian goods (Shires Equestrian): Shires Equestrian, which has made and sold horse equipment for over half a century through retailers around the world, is based at 15 Southern Avenue, Leominster.
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
Leominster is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands 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 Leominster
Leominster follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Herefordshire 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:
- Leominster Town Centre was first designated a conservation area in 1969. Herefordshire Council's 2022 appraisal notes the Grade I Priory Church and that most properties on Broad Street, West Street and South Street are listed, so roofs in the centre need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Leominster could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 975 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 97,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,380 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,463 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,843 |
| 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 Leominster 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 Herefordshire
At the end of 2025, Herefordshire had 10,021 solar PV installations with 128.3 MW of capacity, up 128% since 2020, according to government figures. The Herefordshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Ludlow, about 10 miles away
- Hereford, about 12 miles away
- Malvern, about 19 miles away
- Kidderminster, about 24 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- herefordshire.gov.uk: rural areas appendix 3 list of employment sites
- herefordshire.gov.uk: amr 2025 appendix e employment land monitoring march
- sunshineradio.co.uk: national highways applies to build depot off a49
- foodmanufacture.co.uk: tyrells has struck a deal with gmb union
- shiresequestrian.com: about us
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: maps of uk freeports
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Investment Zones Pack Dec 2025
- herefordshire.gov.uk: leominster conservation area appraisal document
- 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 Leominster?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands 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 Leominster?
About 97,500 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 £17,843 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Leominster 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
- Herefordshire10,021 installations, 128.3 MW of solar and about 990 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.