Key facts
| Council area | Fenland |
| Population | 21,345 (March built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | March Industrial Estate (Thorby Avenue); Whitemoor Yard |
| Indicative yield | About 1,030 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in March
- March Industrial Estate (Thorby Avenue): The town's main industrial area, about a mile north of the town centre, with trade counter and retail businesses close by including Tesco, B&M, Ridgeons and Smurfit Kappa. A 17,821 sq ft building at 4 Thorby Avenue was put on the market in April 2026.
- Whitemoor Yard: Former railway marshalling yards at March, part of which now holds HMP Whitemoor. In 2018 Network Rail described its Whitemoor recycling plant there as the largest of its three materials handling depots, with GB Railfreight running the marshalling yard.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Prison service (HMP Whitemoor): HMP Whitemoor on Longhill Road is a high-security prison for category A and B adult men. It opened in 1991 and was holding 455 men when it was inspected in October 2025, against an operational capacity of 458.
- Rail engineering (Network Rail, Whitemoor): In 2018 Network Rail said 40 to 50 wagons of used railway materials typically arrived at its Whitemoor depot each week, where ballast was washed and switches and crossings refurbished for reuse.
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
March 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 March
March follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Fenland 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:
- March Conservation Area covers about 22 hectares of the town centre and holds 27 listed buildings, including the Grade II* 38 West End and Norland House, so roofs inside it need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in March could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,030 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 103,000 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,304 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,545 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,849 |
| 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 March 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 Fenland
At the end of 2025, Fenland had 4,557 solar PV installations with 47.7 MW of capacity, up 36% since 2020, according to government figures. The Fenland page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Wisbech, about 9 miles away
- Huntingdon, about 19 miles away
- King's Lynn, about 19 miles away
- Spalding, about 19 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- eddisons.com: april launch for march industrial instruction
- networkrail.co.uk: recycling recovered railway materials at our whitemoor facility
- en.wikipedia.org: March, Cambridgeshire
- gov.uk: whitemoor prison
- hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk: hmp whitemoor 3
- cdn.websitebuilder.service.justice.gov.uk: Whitemoor 2025 web
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- eastcambs.gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- en.wikipedia.org: Freeports in the United Kingdom
- heritagecheck.co.uk: march
- 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 March?
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 March?
About 103,000 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 £18,849 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in March 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
- Fenland4,557 installations, 47.7 MW of solar and about 1,028 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.