Key facts
| Council area | Stratford-on-Avon |
| Population | 28,120 (Stratford-upon-Avon built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS, rounded to the nearest five)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Stratford 46; Canal Quarter Regeneration Zone |
| Indicative yield | About 1,003 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Stratford-upon-Avon
- Stratford 46: IM Properties' £140 million, 65 acre employment park on the west side of the town, with a new A46 roundabout as its entrance under construction. It plans workspaces of 20,000 to 300,000 sq ft with integrated solar PV, around 1,500 jobs, and building work from 2026.
- Canal Quarter Regeneration Zone: Industrial and commercial land beside the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal at Western Road, Wharf Road, Timothy's Bridge Road and Masons Road. A masterplan adopted on 16 July 2018 plans its redevelopment with up to 650 homes and up to 9,000 square metres of employment premises.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Insurance (NFU Mutual): NFU Mutual's registered head office is on Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, and in November 2024 it said it was moving staff from its Ryon Hill offices into the Tiddington headquarters with no jobs affected.
- Tourism: South Warwickshire, which takes in Stratford-upon-Avon, drew more than 9.9 million day trips and 948,000 overnight trips in 2024, with tourism worth more than £860 million.
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
Stratford-upon-Avon is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (West 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 Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Stratford-on-Avon 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 district has 75 conservation areas, and Stratford-upon-Avon's is one of eight under review, with formal consultation on updated appraisals and management plans due in 2026, so check a building's status before planning roof panels in the historic centre.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Stratford-upon-Avon could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,003 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 100,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,850 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,505 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,355 |
| 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 Stratford-upon-Avon 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 Stratford-on-Avon
At the end of 2025, Stratford-on-Avon had 6,122 solar PV installations with 211.0 MW of capacity, up 131% since 2020, according to government figures. The Stratford-on-Avon page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Leamington Spa, about 10 miles away
- Evesham, about 12 miles away
- Redditch, about 12 miles away
- Banbury, about 18 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- cw-chamber.co.uk: im properties 311025
- stratford.gov.uk: canal quarter regeneration zone spd.cfm
- stratford-herald.com: nfu mutual confirms its moving out of ryon
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- leamington.nub.news: nearly 10 million tourists headed to south warwickshire
- gov.uk: maps of west midlands investment zone tax sites
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- stratford.gov.uk: conservation areas.cfm
- 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 Stratford-upon-Avon?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (West 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 Stratford-upon-Avon?
About 100,300 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 £18,355 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Stratford-upon-Avon 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
- Stratford-on-Avon6,122 installations, 211.0 MW of solar and about 996 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- West MidlandsNGED connections, the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, automotive and metals manufacturing, M6 and M42 logistics, and fruit and hop farming in the west.
- 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.