Indicative 4 kWp install in Brighton & Hove: £6,900–£8,100. 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 £6,300–£8,200 fitted, but generation more than offsets it: payback typically lands at 7–10 years. Conservation rules across the Regency terraces and Hove squares mean rear-only installs and 6–8 weeks of consent paperwork on listed properties.
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 restrict front-elevation panels.
Listed Regency terraces in central Brighton: rear-only installs after Listed Building Consent.
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?
On the rear slope, yes — usually with all-black panels and Listed Building Consent. Front-facing seafront elevations are almost always refused.
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.