Key facts
| Council area | Huntingdonshire |
| Population | 33,265 (St Neots built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Little End Road Industrial Estate and Alpha Drive Business Park; Cromwell Road Industrial Estate; Colmworth Business 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 St Neots
- Little End Road Industrial Estate and Alpha Drive Business Park: An 18.9 hectare employment area in Eaton Socon with about 64,400 square metres of floorspace, 68% of it storage and distribution. The council's 2025 survey found a vacancy rate of 1.4%.
- Cromwell Road Industrial Estate: A 14.9 hectare estate with about 87,700 square metres of floorspace, mostly general industrial (63%). The council's 2025 survey found no vacant space and buildings averaging 51 years old, and saw it as a likely place for redevelopment.
- Colmworth Business Park: An 11.4 hectare industrial estate and business park with about 43,800 square metres of floorspace, mainly general industrial and storage and distribution, with direct access to the strategic road network and buildings averaging 29 years old.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Power generation (RWE Little Barford): RWE's Little Barford combined cycle gas turbine power station, south of St Neots on the Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire border, has a gross capacity of up to 750MW and began operating in 1996.
- Storage and distribution: Storage and distribution makes up 68% of the floorspace at Little End Road and Alpha Drive and 72% at the 11.8 hectare Howard Road Industrial Estate, according to the council's 2025 survey of the town's employment areas.
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
St Neots is served by UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks 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 St Neots
St Neots follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Huntingdonshire 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:
- St Neots Conservation Area is large, at about 445 hectares, and holds 149 listed buildings, including the Grade I Church of St Mary, so check whether a building is inside it before planning roof panels.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in St Neots 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 St Neots 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 Huntingdonshire
At the end of 2025, Huntingdonshire had 7,031 solar PV installations with 162.1 MW of capacity, up 77% since 2020, according to government figures. The Huntingdonshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Huntingdon, about 8 miles away
- Bedford, about 11 miles away
- Rushden, about 14 miles away
- Wellingborough, about 19 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- uk.rwe.com: little barford ccgt power plant
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- eastcambs.gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- en.wikipedia.org: Freeports in the United Kingdom
- heritagecheck.co.uk: st neots
- 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 St Neots?
UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks 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 St Neots?
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 St Neots 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
- Huntingdonshire7,031 installations, 162.1 MW of solar and about 1,032 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East of EnglandUK Power Networks connections, strong yields, the Felixstowe and A14 logistics corridor, arable farming and food processing across Norfolk, Suffolk and the Fens.
- 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.