Key facts
| Council area | Preston |
| Population | 94,490 (Preston (Preston) built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS, rounded to the nearest five)) |
| Network operator | Electricity North West (North West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Red Scar Business Park; Roman Way Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 904 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Preston
- Red Scar Business Park: Tustin Developments' business park off Longridge Road near M6 junction 31a, dating from 1982. In 2023 Preston's planning committee was recommended to approve two more industrial buildings totalling 33,400 sq ft there, part of a wider 68 acre extension.
- Roman Way Industrial Estate: Industrial estate in Preston where AEL Projects applied in 2023 for a 52,000 sq ft manufacturing facility on a three acre brownfield site used for open air storage.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Higher education (University of Lancashire): The University of Lancashire says its Preston Campus has over 27,000 students and staff and is the focus of a £200m masterplan, including a £35m Engineering Innovation Centre that opened in 2019.
- Wholesale and food manufacturing (James Hall & Co): SPAR wholesaler James Hall & Co is based at Bowland View in Preston; in February 2024 its Great Northern Sandwich Company, which has made sandwiches and wraps since 2009, packed its 75 millionth sandwich.
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
Preston is served by Electricity North West (North West 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 Preston
Preston follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Preston 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 Avenham conservation area (about 35.7 hectares, 119 listed buildings) and the Winckley Square conservation area (about 15 hectares, 43 listed buildings), both designated in 1975, cover much of the historic city centre, so roofs there need more care before panels go on.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Preston could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 904 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 90,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,187 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,356 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,543 |
| Simple payback | About 5.4 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 Preston 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 Preston
At the end of 2025, Preston had 6,071 solar PV installations with 25.2 MW of capacity, up 80% since 2020, according to government figures. The Preston page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Chorley, about 8 miles away
- Blackburn, about 9 miles away
- Accrington, about 14 miles away
- Southport, about 15 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- placenorthwest.co.uk
- placenorthwest.co.uk
- lancashire.ac.uk: about
- lancashirebusinessview.co.uk: james hall co ltd manufactures 75 millionth sandwich
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- investinlancashire.com: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- gov.uk: maps of uk freeports
- heritagecheck.co.uk: avenham
- heritagecheck.co.uk: winckley square
- en.wikipedia.org: Preston, Lancashire
- 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 Preston?
Electricity North West (North West 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 Preston?
About 90,400 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 £16,543 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Preston 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
- Preston6,071 installations, 25.2 MW of solar and about 921 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.