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Solar Panels in Crawley: Costs, Yields and West Sussex Solar

Updated 2026-04-075 min read

Does solar work in Crawley?

Crawley is in West Sussex, benefiting from south-east England irradiance of around 1,050–1,150 kWh/m² annually. Typical panel yield is approximately 970–1,040 kWh per kWp per year. A 4 kWp south-facing system in Crawley generates roughly 3,880–4,160 kWh per year — excellent by UK standards.

The town's position in the Low Weald — relatively flat land between the North and South Downs — means good sky access for most properties. Crawley's new-town character has resulted in large areas of planned housing with consistent, simple rooflines.

970–1,040

kWh per kWp per year — A 4 kWp system in Crawley generates around 3,880–4,160 kWh annually — strong south-east returns

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How much does solar cost in Crawley?

Installation costs in Crawley broadly track the England average of around £1,591 per kWp, though proximity to the south-east premium market can push costs slightly higher. A typical 4 kWp system costs in the range of £5,500–£7,500. Crawley's position near Gatwick and the wider south-east installer market ensures good availability.

Your electricity network: UKPN

Crawley is served by UKPN — UK Power Networks (ukpowernetworks.co.uk), which covers the South East, London, and East of England. UKPN's Smart Connect portal is used routinely by south-east installers for G98 notifications.

G98 Fit and Inform notifications (systems up to 3.68 kW per phase) and G99 pre-approvals (larger systems) are submitted to UKPN by your installer.

Typical system for Crawley homes

Crawley was built as one of England's designated new towns after the Second World War, and the housing reflects this. The original neighbourhoods — Northgate, Three Bridges, Pound Hill, Ifield, Tilgate — are dominated by semi-detached and detached homes from the 1950s and 1960s, typically suited to 4–5 kWp systems.

More recent development in Bewbush, Broadfield, Maidenbower, and Forge Wood (one of Crawley's newest neighbourhoods, completed in the 2020s) has produced modern detached and semi-detached homes on planned plots, many well-suited to 5–6 kWp. The town's older Manor Royal industrial area has no direct impact on residential solar, but the surrounding housing benefits from a well-developed local installer base.

Gatwick proximity: aircraft movements do not affect solar panels

Some Crawley homeowners ask whether being under Gatwick's flight path affects solar performance. Aircraft pass too quickly to cause any meaningful shading — a single plane blocks the sun for a fraction of a second. Solar yield in Crawley is not reduced by proximity to the airport.

Local grants and schemes

ECO4 — available to low-income and vulnerable households. Crawley has areas of deprivation in parts of Broadfield, Bewbush, and Langley Green. Use the national ECO4 checker at gov.uk or contact Crawley Borough Council for referral routes.
Warm Homes Local Grant — for properties with poor EPC ratings and lower household incomes.
0% VAT on solar — UK-wide until March 2027.

Planning in Crawley

Standard GB permitted development rules apply across most of Crawley. Solar panels can be installed without planning permission on most homes, subject to the 200 mm maximum projection above the roof plane.

Crawley's new-town character means few conservation areas. However, Crawley Old Town (the historic village that predated the new town) is a conservation area. If your property is within a conservation area or is listed, contact Crawley Borough Council's planning department before proceeding.

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