Key facts
| Council area | Cheshire East |
| Population | 18,740 (Nantwich built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS, rounded to the nearest five)) |
| Network operator | SP Energy Networks (SP Manweb, Merseyside and North Wales licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Beam Heath Way business park; Alvaston Business Park; Maylands Park, Stapeley |
| Indicative yield | About 952 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Nantwich
- Beam Heath Way business park: Office business park in Nantwich, including George House and Princes Court, where accountants WR Partners moved in 2024 and Watts Mortgage and Wealth Management doubled its premises in April 2026.
- Alvaston Business Park: Office park on Middlewich Road on the north eastern edge of Nantwich, next to the A51 bypass; when new offices were proposed beside it in 2022, the park's representative told the council its power supply was limited.
- Maylands Park, Stapeley: Cheshire East councillors approved a second, commercial phase in January 2024 with offices, light industrial and warehouse space, service yards and a local centre of six shops.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Land based education (Reaseheath College): Reaseheath College in Nantwich describes itself as one of the UK's leading land based and technical colleges, offering diplomas, T Levels, apprenticeships and degrees.
- Financial and professional services: Watts Mortgage and Wealth Management, a family firm founded 38 years ago, doubled its office at Beam Heath Way in April 2026 and has grown to 17 staff; WR Partners opened its Nantwich office at George House on Beam Heath Way in 2024.
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
Nantwich is served by SP Energy Networks (SP Manweb, Merseyside and North Wales 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 Nantwich
Nantwich 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:
- Nantwich has a conservation area with its own appraisal and management strategy (December 2012); Cheshire East's local plan notes that its Snow Hill site by the town centre lies partly within it and includes numerous listed buildings, so check before planning panels on roofs in the historic centre.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Nantwich could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 952 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 95,200 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,994 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,428 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,422 |
| Simple payback | About 5.2 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 Nantwich 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
- Crewe, about 4 miles away
- Winsford, about 9 miles away
- Northwich, about 13 miles away
- Congleton, about 14 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- nantwich.nub.news: family firm doubles office space and expands team
- businesscheshire.co.uk
- thenantwichnews.co.uk
- crewe.nub.news: very attractive new south cheshire business park given
- reaseheath.ac.uk: about us
- cheshireeast.gov.uk: lps 46
- cheshireeast.gov.uk: lps 47
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- gov.uk: maps of uk freeports
- en.wikipedia.org: Nantwich
- 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 Nantwich?
SP Energy Networks (SP Manweb, Merseyside and North Wales 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 Nantwich?
About 95,200 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 £17,422 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Nantwich 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.