Key facts
| Council area | Newark and Sherwood |
| Population | 29,755 (Newark-on-Trent built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands) |
| Main employment areas | Brunel Drive (Newark Logistics Park); Newark Beacon Business Centre |
| Indicative yield | About 994 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Newark-on-Trent
- Brunel Drive (Newark Logistics Park): Newark's main industrial area, about 1.5 miles from the town centre and a mile from the A46 and A1 junction. Newark Logistics Park there is a 37 acre development site for units of up to about 738,000 sq ft, targeting an EPC A rating and BREEAM Excellent.
- Newark Beacon Business Centre: Council-run business centre offering hot-desking, fully serviced offices and light industrial units, with reception, meeting rooms and conference facilities.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Sugar (British Sugar): British Sugar's Newark factory is one of three taking over beet processing from Cantley, which is due to close by February 2027, and Newark will supply the company's brown sugar customers.
- Precision bearings (NSK): NSK's Northern Road works, dating from 1900, had more than 400 staff and made about 500,000 bearings a year in 2025, but in March 2026 NSK said it plans to close the site by March 2027, with around 220 manufacturing roles at risk.
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
Newark-on-Trent is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands). 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 Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Newark and Sherwood 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:
- The Newark Conservation Area, first designated in 1968, was the second conservation area in England. A review approved in 2022 added Newark College, parts of Friary Road, Crown Street and Lime Grove, and it is one of 47 conservation areas in the district.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Newark-on-Trent could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 994 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 99,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,699 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,491 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,190 |
| 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 Newark-on-Trent 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 Newark and Sherwood
At the end of 2025, Newark and Sherwood had 5,145 solar PV installations with 219.6 MW of capacity, up 215% since 2020, according to government figures. The Newark and Sherwood page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Grantham, about 13 miles away
- Mansfield, about 17 miles away
- Sleaford, about 17 miles away
- Retford, about 18 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: List of ONS built up areas in England
- newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk: businessunitstorent
- grocerygazette.co.uk: british sugar set to close cantley factory
- themanufacturer.com: hundreds of jobs at risk as nsk announce
- newarkadvertiser.co.uk: conservation area changes for newark and southwell 9284407
- nsk.com: nsk newark celebrates 125 years of production
- newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk: conservationareas
- 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 Newark-on-Trent?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands). 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 Newark-on-Trent?
About 99,400 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 £18,190 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Newark-on-Trent 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
- Newark and Sherwood5,145 installations, 219.6 MW of solar and about 995 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.