Indicative 4 kWp install in Brighton & Hove: £6,450–£8,550. Region: South East (×1.04). Annual irradiance: ~1010 kWh/kWp.
What Brighton & Hove homeowners actually pay
Brighton & Hove is the highest-irradiance major UK city — a 4 kWp system regularly generates close to 4,000 kWh per year. Pricing runs slightly above the UK average at £6,450–£8,550 fitted, but generation more than offsets it: payback typically lands at 11–14 years. Conservation designation across the Regency terraces and Hove squares does not alone exclude front-roof panels; listed properties need separate consent and siting is assessed case by case.
Local notes for Brighton & Hove
Highest irradiance of any major UK city — ~990 kWh/kWp/yr.
Conservation areas across Kemptown, Hove and the Old Town — roof panels are not excluded merely because they face a road; check Article 4 directions and listed status.
Listed Regency terraces in central Brighton: Listed Building Consent is required, with roof siting assessed case by case.
Coastal salt exposure — specify A2/A4 fixings within 1 km of the seafront.
Field notes
UK-best irradiance — ~3,950 kWh/yr from a 4 kWp south-facing array.
DNO is UKPN — G99 turnaround typically 4–6 weeks.
Listed/conservation friction is the main planning constraint.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put solar on a Brighton Regency terrace?
Potentially. A listed Regency terrace needs Listed Building Consent and any required planning permission, with siting assessed case by case. For an unlisted house, conservation-area status alone does not exclude front-roof panels; check the general permitted-development limits and any Article 4 direction with Brighton & Hove City Council.
Why is Brighton so good for solar?
More sunshine hours per year than anywhere else on mainland UK, low shading on most suburban roofs, and a mature local installer base. The combination delivers the shortest typical UK payback.