Key facts
| Council area | North Kesteven |
| Population | 18,030 (Sleaford built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park; Sleaford Enterprise Park |
| Indicative yield | About 1,023 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Sleaford
- Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park: North Kesteven District Council's 14.58 hectare (37 acre) strategic employment site beside the A17, allocated in the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan. Its first 15 units, completed in late 2023, all have solar panels and EV charging points, and the council says every unit in plots 1 and 3 is let.
- Sleaford Enterprise Park: Part of the town's main industrial area, which the council says has grown significantly over the last 15 years. Occupiers named by the council include SHD Composites, Sleaford Quality Foods, Bailey Trailers, FedEx and Cope Seeds.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Food processing: The council's economic development team says food processing is still North Kesteven's biggest employer, naming Pilgrim Foods (Moy Park and Tulip), Noble Foods, Sleaford Quality Foods and Branston Ltd as long established firms in the district.
- Advanced composites (SHD Composites): SHD Composites makes composite prepreg materials for motorsport, automotive, aerospace, defence and marine customers from its UK base at The Reservation, Sleaford.
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
Sleaford is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands 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 Sleaford
Sleaford follows the national planning rules for England, decided by North Kesteven 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 Sleaford Conservation Area, designated on 2 May 1973, covers about 46.9 hectares and holds 141 listed buildings, including the Grade I Parish Church of St Denys, 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 Sleaford could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,023 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 102,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,186 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,535 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,721 |
| 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
We found no council or regional grant for business solar open in Sleaford 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 North Kesteven
At the end of 2025, North Kesteven had 6,202 solar PV installations with 174.5 MW of capacity, up 101% since 2020, according to government figures. The North Kesteven page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Grantham, about 11 miles away
- Boston, about 16 miles away
- Newark-on-Trent, about 17 miles away
- Spalding, about 18 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- businessnk.co.uk: sleaford
- businessnk.co.uk: construction is now complete on the phase one
- businessnk.co.uk: key sectors
- shdcomposites.com
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- gov.uk: maps of humber freeport tax sites
- heritagecheck.co.uk: sleaford
- 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 Sleaford?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands 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 Sleaford?
About 102,300 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 £18,721 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Sleaford 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
- North Kesteven6,202 installations, 174.5 MW of solar and about 1,019 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East MidlandsNGED connections, Golden Triangle logistics, Lincolnshire farming and food processing, Derby manufacturing and the Nottingham Workplace Parking Levy.
- 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.