Key facts
| Council area | Mansfield |
| Population | 63,445 (Mansfield built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Ransom Wood Business Park; APEX (former Penniment Farm) |
| Indicative yield | About 973 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Mansfield
- Ransom Wood Business Park: A 70 acre woodland business park on the edge of Mansfield with flexible offices, a restaurant, meeting rooms and a nursery. A three acre solar farm with over 2,000 panels and up to 540kW opened there in 2015 to power the park.
- APEX (former Penniment Farm): An employment site allocated in the Mansfield District Council Local Plan, with direct access from the A617 and links to junctions 28 and 29 of the M1. In 2024 HBD and CEG secured a resolution to grant planning permission for five buildings of 30,000 to 150,000 sq ft, about 392,000 sq ft in all.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Further education (West Notts College): West Notts College serves Mansfield, Ashfield and surrounding districts from ten campuses, with close to 12,000 full and part time students and apprentices.
- Financial services (Mansfield Building Society): Mansfield Building Society, established in 1870, is a mutual owned by its members and is based at Regent House, Regent Street, Mansfield.
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
Mansfield is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (East 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 Mansfield
Mansfield follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Mansfield 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:
- Mansfield District Council publishes conservation area documents for The Park, Market Place, Bridge Street, West Gate, Pleasley Park and Vale, Crow Hill Drive, Mansfield Woodhouse and Church Warsop, so roofs in the historic town 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 Mansfield could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 973 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 97,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,346 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,460 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,806 |
| Simple payback | About 5.1 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 Mansfield 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 Mansfield
At the end of 2025, Mansfield had 2,813 solar PV installations with 58.4 MW of capacity, up 10% since 2020, according to government figures. The Mansfield page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Worksop, about 11 miles away
- Chesterfield, about 12 miles away
- Retford, about 16 miles away
- Newark-on-Trent, about 17 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- en.wikipedia.org: Old Town Hall, Mansfield
- ransomwood.co.uk
- ransomwood.co.uk: solar farm
- ukconstructionmedia.co.uk: green light for logistics and manufacturing hub
- hbd.co.uk
- wnc.ac.uk: about us
- mansfieldbs.co.uk: our history
- mansfieldbs.co.uk: contact
- gov.uk: maps of east midlands investment zone tax sites
- gov.uk: maps of east midlands freeport tax sites
- boots-uk.com: nottingham enterprise zone
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- mansfield.gov.uk: conservation areas
- 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 Mansfield?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (East 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 Mansfield?
About 97,300 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 £17,806 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Mansfield 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
- Mansfield2,813 installations, 58.4 MW of solar and about 968 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East MidlandsNGED connections, Golden Triangle logistics, Lincolnshire farming and food processing, Derby manufacturing and the Nottingham Workplace Parking Levy.
- 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.