Key facts
| Council area | Cheshire East |
| Population | 54,345 (Macclesfield built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Electricity North West (North West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Hurdsfield Industrial Estate; Tytherington Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 858 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Macclesfield
- Hurdsfield Industrial Estate: Cheshire East Council described it in 2015 as the largest traditional industrial estate in Cheshire East, home to multinationals including AstraZeneca and BASF Performance Products. AstraZeneca occupies 100 acres there on the east side of the town.
- Tytherington Business Park: A business park in north Macclesfield. Ashwood Court on Springwood Close there is the address of a dozen Franchise Brands group companies, including Metro Rod, Pirtek and The Filta Group.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Pharmaceuticals (AstraZeneca): Cheshire East Council's Science Corridor page describes AstraZeneca's Hurdsfield site as its second largest global manufacturing operation, where about 2,500 people worked in drug development, manufacturing and packaging, including the oncology product Zoladex.
- Franchising (Franchise Brands): Franchise Brands' 2025 modern slavery statement lists 12 group companies, among them Metro Rod, Pirtek, Oven Clean and Chipsaway, at Ashwood Court, Tytherington Business Park.
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
Macclesfield is served by Electricity North West (North West 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 Macclesfield
Macclesfield follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Cheshire East 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:
- Macclesfield town centre has three conservation areas, Macclesfield Town Centre, Christchurch and Park Green, plus an area of archaeological potential, 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 Macclesfield could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 858 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 85,800 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,414 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,287 earned |
| Total a year | About £15,701 |
| Simple payback | About 5.7 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 Macclesfield 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 Cheshire East
At the end of 2025, Cheshire East had 11,685 solar PV installations with 85.2 MW of capacity, up 65% since 2020, according to government figures. The Cheshire East page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Congleton, about 7 miles away
- Stockport, about 11 miles away
- Leek, about 12 miles away
- Northwich, about 16 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- cheshireeast.gov.uk: alignment of economic employment and housing strategy
- cheshireeast.gov.uk: cheshire science corridor
- modern-slavery-statement-registry.service.gov.uk: group
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- cheshireeast.gov.uk: ed35 macclesfield settlement report
- 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 Macclesfield?
Electricity North West (North West 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 Macclesfield?
About 85,800 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 £15,701 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Macclesfield 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
- Cheshire East11,685 installations, 85.2 MW of solar and about 909 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- North WestTwo network operators, realistic northern yields, Trafford Park, the Port of Liverpool, Cheshire chemicals and Cumbrian farming, and Greater Manchester's non-charging clean air plan.
- 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.