Key facts
| Council area | West Suffolk |
| Population | 18,855 (Newmarket built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Newmarket Business Park; Lynx Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 1,033 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Newmarket
- Newmarket Business Park: Business park on St Leger Drive, off Fordham Road, developed by Hamilton Land over about 15 years. By March 2019 it was fully developed, at over 300,000 sq ft, with occupiers including Wickes, Ridgeons, Smiths News, Cosentino UK, Newmarket Harley-Davidson and Tristel.
- Lynx Business Park: Business park on Fordham Road at Snailwell, on Newmarket's northern edge. Infection prevention products maker Tristel has its registered offices there.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Horse breeding and racing: A March 2023 report for West Suffolk Council and the town's horse racing industry estimated that Newmarket's horse breeding and racing cluster contributed £256.2 million of value added and 3,285 jobs in 2021/22, including 1,435 linked to trainers and 972 to stud farms.
- Medical hygiene products (Tristel): Tristel Solutions Limited, classed as a chemical products manufacturer, and its parent Tristel plc have their registered offices at Lynx Business Park, Fordham Road.
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
Newmarket 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 Newmarket
Newmarket follows the national planning rules for England, decided by West Suffolk 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 Newmarket Conservation Area covers about 187 hectares and holds 103 listed buildings, including the Grade II* Palace House and historic racing stables such as Abington Place; Forest Heath District Council considered its appraisal for adoption in September 2009.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Newmarket could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,033 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 103,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,354 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,550 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,904 |
| 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
- Solar for Business (West Suffolk Council): West Suffolk Council designs, funds, installs and maintains solar panels on a business roof at no upfront cost, keeps ownership of the panels and sells the electricity they generate to the business at a discounted tariff under a 25 year lease and power purchase agreement. Buildings must be in West Suffolk, Babergh or Mid Suffolk, use at least 5,000 kWh of electricity a year and not be Grade I or II listed; tenants need landlord permission. A May 2026 councillors' report said the scheme remains open to West Suffolk businesses and had been extended to Babergh and Mid Suffolk as a pilot. Check the scheme's own page for eligibility and closing dates.
National reliefs apply too: see grants and reliefs in England.
Solar across West Suffolk
At the end of 2025, West Suffolk had 7,521 solar PV installations with 215.6 MW of capacity, up 48% since 2020, according to government figures. The West Suffolk page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Haverhill, about 11 miles away
- Bury St Edmunds, about 13 miles away
- Thetford, about 19 miles away
- March, about 25 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- cheffins.co.uk: view,newmarket business park fully developed following 15 years
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- westsuffolk.gov.uk: newmarkets horse breeding and racing cluster 2022
- heritagecheck.co.uk: newmarket
- westsuffolk.gov.uk: PLN FH 09 09 23 reppln09595 Newmarket Conservation
- westsuffolk.gov.uk: solarforbusiness
- westsuffolk.gov.uk: pr20250428ws01.cfm
- lackfordparishcouncil.gov.uk: District Councillors Annual Report 2026
- 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 Newmarket?
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 Newmarket?
About 103,300 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 £18,904 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Newmarket 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 Suffolk7,521 installations, 215.6 MW of solar and about 1,024 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.