Key facts
| Council area | West Berkshire |
| Population | 42,260 (Newbury built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Greenham Business Park; Kennetside Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,014 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Newbury
- Greenham Business Park: Greenham Trust's business park on the former Greenham Common air base, about two miles south of the town centre. In 2023 the Trust completed Altitude, a 33,117 sq ft warehouse whose rooftop PV generates up to 80,000 kWh a year, and in September 2025 two more units of 58,583 and 53,042 sq ft were launched.
- Kennetside Industrial Estate: Industrial estate on Bone Lane bought by Logicor in 2024. In July 2025 Thatcham Butchers took a 21,326 sq ft unit on a 10 year lease, leaving the estate near full occupancy.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Telecoms (VodafoneThree): Newbury is the headquarters of Vodafone, whose UK business merged with Three on 31 May 2025 to form VodafoneThree, the UK's largest mobile operator with more than 27 million customers.
- Financial services (Newbury Building Society): Newbury Building Society, an independent mutual that says it has been trusted by the local community for 170 years, has its registered office at 90 Bartholomew Street in the town centre.
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
Newbury is served by SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution 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 Newbury
Newbury follows the national planning rules for England, decided by West Berkshire 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 Newbury Town Centre Conservation Area covers about 130.8 hectares and holds 187 listed buildings, two of them Grade I, so roofs in the 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 Newbury could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,014 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 101,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,035 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,521 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,556 |
| 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 Newbury 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 West Berkshire
At the end of 2025, West Berkshire had 4,908 solar PV installations with 49.1 MW of capacity, up 47% since 2020, according to government figures. The West Berkshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Basingstoke, about 14 miles away
- Didcot, about 14 miles away
- Andover, about 15 miles away
- Swindon, about 22 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- businessbiscuit.com: greenham trust unveils altitude industrial warehouse
- porterfield.co.uk: haslams surveyors launch the hulk and its smaller
- newburytoday.co.uk: greenham business park set for streamlined expansion 9183800
- porterfield.co.uk: local wholesale butchers leases 20000 sq ft unit
- businessbiscuit.com: vodafone to take full ownership of three
- newbury.co.uk
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: freeports
- gov.uk: maps of freeports and freeport tax sites
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- heritagecheck.co.uk: newbury town centre
- 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 Newbury?
SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution 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 Newbury?
About 101,400 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 £18,556 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Newbury 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
- West Berkshire4,908 installations, 49.1 MW of solar and about 1,010 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- South EastTwo network operators, strong south coast yields, Kent horticulture, Thames Valley offices and Solent logistics, and the clean air zones that affect fleets.
- 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.