Key facts
| Council area | East Staffordshire |
| Population | 14,020 (Uttoxeter built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Indurent Park Uttoxeter; Robert Bakewell Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 963 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Uttoxeter
- Indurent Park Uttoxeter: Indurent has planning consent for about 385,000 sq ft of industrial and logistics space in two units (about 300,000 and 85,000 sq ft) within the wider 127 acre Uttoxeter mixed use scheme near the A50 and A522, which it expects to bring about 580 full time jobs once complete.
- Robert Bakewell Business Park: PMW Property completed two speculatively built industrial and warehouse units of 33,843 and 109,345 sq ft on the A50 at Uttoxeter in 2025, built to BREEAM Very Good with B2 and B8 planning consent.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Construction equipment (JCB): JCB was founded in a lock-up garage in Uttoxeter in 1945. Its excavator business, JCB Heavy Products, moved into a new factory on the outskirts of the town in 2008, and in 2018 JCB announced a £50 million investment in a new Uttoxeter factory to make cabs.
- Biscuit manufacturing (Elkes Biscuits): In August 2024 the Elkes Biscuits factory in Uttoxeter employed 620 people and was recruiting, with plans to grow its workforce by more than 50%.
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
Uttoxeter 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 Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter follows the national planning rules for England, decided by East Staffordshire 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:
- East Staffordshire Borough Council's Uttoxeter conservation area, covering the historic town centre, was designated on 24 November 1970, so roofs there need more care with how panels look from the street.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Uttoxeter could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 963 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 96,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,178 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,445 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,623 |
| 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 Uttoxeter 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 East Staffordshire
At the end of 2025, East Staffordshire had 3,362 solar PV installations with 62.5 MW of capacity, up 18% since 2020, according to government figures. The East Staffordshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Burton upon Trent, about 11 miles away
- Stafford, about 12 miles away
- Leek, about 16 miles away
- Cannock, about 16 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- indurent.com
- marketingderby.co.uk
- jcb.com: 80th anniversary history
- thebusinessdesk.com: 2088901 sweet treats on offer as biscuit maker
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: maps of uk freeports
- gov.uk: maps of east midlands freeport tax sites
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Investment Zones Pack Dec 2025
- planning.data.gov.uk
- 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 Uttoxeter?
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 Uttoxeter?
About 96,300 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 £17,623 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Uttoxeter 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
- East Staffordshire3,362 installations, 62.5 MW of solar and about 967 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.