Key facts
| Council area | Harborough |
| Population | 24,165 (Market Harborough built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Airfield Business Park; Harborough Innovation Centre |
| Indicative yield | About 1,012 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Market Harborough
- Airfield Business Park: Leicestershire County Council's park on Harrison Road on the north side of the town. Its first 12 units, built for £5.2m in 2019, have 692 solar panels, and its final phase, which was due to complete in early 2026, was planned with roof solar PV and a 67,000 sq ft unit pre-let to Bramble Foods.
- Harborough Innovation Centre: Council listed business centre next to Airfield Business Park with just over 23,000 sq ft of offices and studios for up to 53 companies, in units of 157 to 1,065 sq ft let on flexible terms.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Fine foods (Bramble Foods): Bramble Foods employs more than 150 people in Market Harborough and in February 2025 had pre-let a 67,000 sq ft unit in the final phase of Airfield Business Park.
- Transport and storage: Across Harborough district, transport and storage accounted for about 6,000 jobs, 15.4% of the workforce, in 2019, second only to wholesale and retail.
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
Market Harborough 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 Market Harborough
Market Harborough follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Harborough 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:
- Market Harborough Conservation Area, designated in 1969, covers about 18.7 hectares of the town centre and holds 70 listed buildings, including the Grade I Church of St Dionysius and Old Grammar School, 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 Market Harborough could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,012 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 101,200 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,002 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,518 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,520 |
| 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 Market Harborough 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 Harborough
At the end of 2025, Harborough had 3,519 solar PV installations with 53.0 MW of capacity, up 226% since 2020, according to government figures. The Harborough page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Corby, about 9 miles away
- Kettering, about 10 miles away
- Wellingborough, about 16 miles away
- Oakham, about 16 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- eddisons.com: final phase of new build industrial units available
- premierconstructionnews.com: airfield business park market harborough
- harborough.gov.uk: harborough innovation centre
- llbsp.org.uk: LLEP Area Profile Market Harborough
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- en.wikipedia.org: Freeports in the United Kingdom
- heritagecheck.co.uk: market harborough
- 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 Market Harborough?
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 Market Harborough?
About 101,200 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 £18,520 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Market Harborough 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
- Harborough3,519 installations, 53.0 MW of solar and about 1,014 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.