Key facts
| Council area | West Lancashire |
| Population | 34,915 (Skelmersdale built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Electricity North West (North West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Pimbo Industrial Estate (including West Pimbo); Skelmersdale 245 (West Pimbo); East Gillibrands Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 930 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Skelmersdale
- Pimbo Industrial Estate (including West Pimbo): Established industrial estate off the A577 Pimbo Road, about a mile from junction 5 of the M58. Occupiers on West Pimbo include Procter & Gamble, Carrylift Group, PepsiCo International, Flow-Tech and SCA.
- Skelmersdale 245 (West Pimbo): HBD, part of Henry Boot, lodged plans in October 2023 to replace the 150,000 sq ft Allied Business Centre with a 245,000 sq ft industrial and logistics building on a 12 acre plot.
- East Gillibrands Industrial Estate: Industrial estate off Gillibrands Road with direct access to junction 4 of the M58. It includes the council's Greenhey Place warehouse units and the 11 unit Greenwood Business Centre.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Banking (The Co-operative Bank): The Co-operative Bank is one of the town's employers, with 650 staff.
- Distribution and food manufacturing: The town has distribution centres for Asda, P&G and Victorian Plumbing, and a Walkers snack food factory.
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
Skelmersdale 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 Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale follows the national planning rules for England, decided by West Lancashire 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:
- None of West Lancashire's 28 conservation areas is in Skelmersdale, so conservation area rules rarely affect its business roofs.
- Skelmersdale was designated a new town in 1961, and the council's Local List picks out buildings that reflect the New Town movement, so check whether a building is on it before altering its roof.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Skelmersdale could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 930 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 93,000 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,624 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,395 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,019 |
| Simple payback | About 5.3 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 Skelmersdale 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 Lancashire
At the end of 2025, West Lancashire had 3,056 solar PV installations with 27.7 MW of capacity, up 89% since 2020, according to government figures. The West Lancashire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Wigan, about 6 miles away
- Kirkby, about 7 miles away
- St Helens, about 7 miles away
- Chorley, about 9 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: List of ONS built up areas in England
- en.wikipedia.org: Skelmersdale
- placenorthwest.co.uk
- westlancs.gov.uk: greenhey place
- westlancs.gov.uk: greenwood business centre
- westlancs.gov.uk: conservation character appraisals
- westlancs.gov.uk: local list review
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- 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 Skelmersdale?
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 Skelmersdale?
About 93,000 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 £17,019 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Skelmersdale 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 Lancashire3,056 installations, 27.7 MW of solar and about 952 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.