Key facts
| Council area | Telford and Wrekin |
| Population | 156,910 (Telford built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands) |
| Main employment areas | Stafford Park; Halesfield; Hortonwood; T54 |
| Indicative yield | About 964 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Telford
- Stafford Park: A fully developed industrial estate specialising in manufacturing and distribution, with over 35 businesses including TCL Packaging and Single Source. It is 1.5 miles from the town centre and Telford Central station, with good access to the M54.
- Halesfield: A Strategic Employment Area about four miles from the town centre near Madeley, with engineering, vehicle body manufacturing, flooring and printed label firms. Newer units include Pioneer Park on Halesfield 18, let to Smartwater Group and Sirane.
- Hortonwood: Industrial area where the council built 24 rented units across eight buildings on Plot 12, with roof solar panels and space for EV charging points.
- T54: Employment land near Stafford Park, less than a mile from the motorway, where Magna International opened a factory in 2018. Plot 7 is an 18.46 acre site allocated for industrial and storage uses.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Advanced manufacturing and engineering: Manufacturing makes up over a fifth of locally produced GVA, against about 10% nationally, and about 1,500 companies have relocated to Telford in the last 20 years.
- Defence (Rheinmetall): Rheinmetall's UK Gun Hall at Hadley Castle Works opened on 22 October 2026, making 120mm and 155mm gun barrels, with about 100 roles expected as production grows.
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
Telford is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands). 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 Telford
Telford follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Telford and Wrekin 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:
- 76% of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site lies in Telford and Wrekin. A supplementary planning document adopted in 2023 guides development there, with property level guidance for businesses and a section on energy efficiency in buildings.
Our planning permission guide sets out the rules.
What a business roof in Telford could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 964 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 96,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,195 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,446 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,641 |
| Simple payback | About 5.1 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 Telford 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 Telford and Wrekin
At the end of 2025, Telford and Wrekin had 5,670 solar PV installations with 81.3 MW of capacity, up 97% since 2020, according to government figures. The Telford and Wrekin page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Bridgnorth, about 10 miles away
- Shrewsbury, about 13 miles away
- Stafford, about 16 miles away
- Cannock, about 17 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: List of ONS built up areas in England
- investtelford.co.uk
- investtelford.co.uk: land and property
- investtelford.co.uk: industry strengths
- investtelford.co.uk: council welcomes opening of rheinmetall gun hall in
- newsroomarchive.telford.gov.uk
- newsroomarchive.telford.gov.uk
- democracy.telford.gov.uk: Committee Report
- shropshirelive.com: council approves ironbridge gorge world heritage site supplementary
- investtelford.co.uk: sustainability and energy efficiency
- newsroom.telford.gov.uk: free energy reviews and grants available to support
- 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 Telford?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (West Midlands). 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 Telford?
About 96,400 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 £17,641 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Telford 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
- Telford and Wrekin5,670 installations, 81.3 MW of solar and about 957 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.