Key facts
| Council area | Rochdale |
| Population | 111,255 (Rochdale built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Electricity North West (North West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Kingsway Business Park; Sandbrook Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 860 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Rochdale
- Kingsway Business Park: A business park at junction 21 of the M62 with its own Metrolink stop. In July 2024 the Greater Manchester Pension Fund let more than 240,000 sq ft there to Cleland McIver and Solotech, alongside occupiers including Amazon, ASDA, Dachser, Danish Crown and JD Sports.
- Sandbrook Business Park: Northern Trust's business park off Sandbrook Way in Rochdale, where a newly completed phase had its first lettings in August 2026, including electrical and engineering services firm BICS (NW).
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Logistics and distribution: Invest in Rochdale says one in five supply chain businesses in Greater Manchester operate from Rochdale, and Dachser is based at Kingsway Business Park with a direct link to junction 21 of the M62.
- Food production (Danish Crown): Danish Crown, a global food company, took the 328,000 sq ft Monarch330 unit at Kingsway Business Park in 2022.
- Advanced materials and manufacturing research: Construction of the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre at Kingsway began in October 2025, with laboratories, workshops and start up space, and completion expected by summer 2026.
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
Rochdale 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 Rochdale
Rochdale follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Rochdale 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 Rochdale Town Centre Conservation Area covers about 22.3 hectares and holds 30 listed buildings, two of them Grade I (the Town Hall and the Cenotaph), so roofs in the 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 Rochdale could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 860 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 86,000 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,448 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,290 earned |
| Total a year | About £15,738 |
| Simple payback | About 5.7 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 Rochdale 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 Rochdale
At the end of 2025, Rochdale had 3,680 solar PV installations with 24.3 MW of capacity, up 91% since 2020, according to government figures. The Rochdale page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Oldham, about 6 miles away
- Bury, about 6 miles away
- Bolton, about 12 miles away
- Burnley, about 12 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- investinrochdale.co.uk: a further 240000 sq ft of space has
- thebusinessdesk.com: 2178114 strong interest leads to early lettings at
- investinrochdale.co.uk: key sectors
- investinrochdale.co.uk: rochdale
- wilsonbowden.co.uk: construction has begun on rochdales smmc building
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- heritagecheck.co.uk: rochdale 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 Rochdale?
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 Rochdale?
About 86,000 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 £15,738 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Rochdale 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
- Rochdale3,680 installations, 24.3 MW of solar and about 852 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.