Key facts
| Council area | Sefton |
| Population | 94,440 (Southport built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | SP Energy Networks (SP Manweb) |
| Main employment areas | Southport Business Park; Crowland Street; Slaidburn Crescent |
| Indicative yield | About 995 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Southport
- Southport Business Park: About 19 hectares off Town Lane, Kew, about 2 miles south-east of the town centre, with occupiers including electronics manufacturers and a Post Office distribution centre. In 2025 EFT Group took a 999-year lease on vacant plots to build its new headquarters and small business units.
- Crowland Street: Mixed employment area on the eastern edge of the town, mostly built in the 1990s, with a bus depot, vehicle hire, roofing supplies, Screwfix and Toolstation. It includes Blowick Business Park.
- Slaidburn Crescent: Designated employment site in the north of Southport with offices and small industrial units, home to online retailers, a joinery business, a packaging provider and other manufacturers.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Visitor economy: Sefton's visitor economy was worth £716.9 million in 2025, with 7.79 million visitors and about 6,160 jobs, helped by events such as the Southport Air Show and Southport Flower Show.
- Safety, security and construction services (EFT Group): EFT Group, a Southport family firm with a large local workforce, plans a 26,500 sq ft headquarters and 26 small business units at Southport Business Park.
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
Southport is served by SP Energy Networks (SP Manweb). 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 Southport
Southport follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Sefton 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 Lord Street Conservation Area (designated 1973) and the Promenade Conservation Area (designated 1990) cover the town centre and seafront. Both had new appraisals adopted in 2017 and are on the national Heritage at Risk Register.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Southport could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 995 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 99,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,716 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,493 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,209 |
| Simple payback | About 4.9 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 Southport 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 Sefton
At the end of 2025, Sefton had 3,964 solar PV installations with 19.0 MW of capacity, up 119% since 2020, according to government figures. The Sefton page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Skelmersdale, about 12 miles away
- Kirkby, about 12 miles away
- Bootle, about 13 miles away
- Preston, about 15 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: List of ONS built up areas in England
- sefton.gov.uk: sefton elps final
- sefton.gov.uk: major southport employer secures huge land boost thanks
- placenorthwest.co.uk: plans lodged for 55000 sq ft eft anchored
- sefton.gov.uk: sefton tourism sees huge boost in 2025 as
- sefton.gov.uk: conservation areas
- 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 Southport?
SP Energy Networks (SP Manweb). 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 Southport?
About 99,500 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 £18,209 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Southport 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
- Sefton3,964 installations, 19.0 MW of solar and about 964 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.