Oldham Solar Guide: Mill-Town Terraces, Saddleworth Stone & 10 Verified Installers
10 MCS-certified firms for Oldham, Royton, Shaw, Chadderton, Failsworth, Lees and the Saddleworth villages.
Oldham was once called the most productive cotton spinning mill town in the world, with more than 360 mills at its peak, and it spun its last cotton in 1998. Its streets are still dominated by red-brick terraces built for mill workers, mostly between 1870 and 1920, on high ground about 700 ft above sea level and 6.9 miles north-east of Manchester. To the east, the Saddleworth villages are built of millstone-grit stone and were historically part of Yorkshire’s West Riding.
This guide covers the town and the wider borough. A 4kW roof here is modelled to produce 3,346 kWh a year, and every unit you use at home rather than buy saves 26.49p at the North West price cap. All ten installers below are based inside the borough, in Royton, Shaw, Chadderton, Springhead, Hollinwood or central Oldham, and each was checked against its MCS listing, its own website where it has one and Companies House.
At a glance: Oldham solar installers compared
| Company | Accreditation | Services | Coverage | Years | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Panels Funded | MCS network | Quote matching, solar PV, battery, panel cleaning, funding guidance | Oldham, Saddleworth & OL postcodes | — | One enquiry → multiple local quotes |
| Thomas Halliwell Ltd | MCS (NICEIC) | Solar PV, Powerwall, EV, M&E | Royton (OL2), ~1.5 miles | Since 2013 | Adding a battery or extending an existing array. |
| NPS Solar | MCS (NAPIT), RECC, TrustMark | Solar PV, battery, SolarEdge | Royton (OL2), ~2.7 miles | Since 2005 | A detailed feasibility report before you commit. |
| Simpli Green Ltd | MCS (NAPIT) | Solar PV, battery, ASHP, insulation | Hollinwood (OL8), ~1.4 miles | Since 2020 | Bundling solar with insulation or a heat pump. |
| Electraspec UK Limited | MCS (NAPIT) | Solar PV, battery, electrical | Shaw (OL2), ~3.1 miles | Since 2002 | A long-established local electrician in Shaw. |
| Pennine Electrical (Saddleworth) Ltd | MCS (NAPIT) | Solar PV, battery, electrical | Springhead (OL4), ~2.1 miles | Since 2016 | Homes towards Lees and Saddleworth. |
| Clad-It Solar Limited | MCS (NICEIC) | Commercial solar, roofing, cladding | Shaw (OL2), ~3.1 miles | — | Commercial roofs that need repair before solar. |
| B S Entwistle Electrical Contractors Ltd | MCS (NICEIC) | Solar PV, electrical, alarms | Chadderton (OL9), ~2.1 miles | Since 1998 | Households wanting one firm for electrics and alarms. |
| WBES (Oldham) Limited | MCS (NAPIT) | Solar PV, battery | Oldham (OL4), ~0.9 miles | Since 2024 | A town-centre quote to test on price. |
| Redstone Building Services (Y&NW) | MCS (NICEIC) | Solar PV, battery | Chadderton (OL9), ~0.9 miles | — | A small independent quote near Chadderton. |
| DB Energy Group Ltd | MCS (NICEIC) | Solar PV, battery | Royton (OL2), ~1.6 miles | — | An extra quote for Royton and north Oldham. |
MCS numbers checked 13 October 2026 against the MCS installer listings (via Find Certified Installers), with services and accreditations checked on each firm’s own site and the RECC, TrustMark, Which? and Checkatrade listings where available. Review figures are the ones shown on those listings. Membership can change, so confirm MCS status with the installer before you sign.
Solar in Oldham by the numbers
These figures are modelled for Oldham town centre. A 4kW array tilted at 35° and facing due south is estimated at 3,346 kWh a year, peaking at about 431 kWh in May and dropping to 98 kWh in December.
- 3,346 kWh / yearEstimated output of a 4kW roof system in Oldham
- 26.49p per kWhPrice-cap unit rate for Oldham’s region (North West), Oct–Dec 2026, vs 26.32p GB average
- £355–£530 off your billIf you use 40–60% of what the panels make at home
- + £175–£260 export incomeThe rest sold at 13p/kWh on an open Smart Export Guarantee tariff
On those numbers the system is worth roughly £615–£705 a year and repays a £6,490 install in around 9.2–10.5 years. Oldham comes out slightly below Manchester (3,444 kWh), Bury (3,443 kWh) and Bolton (3,481 kWh), but the gap is only about 3%.
Sources: output from the EU’s PVGIS 5.3 model (SARAH-3 data) for Oldham, 4kW, 35° south-facing, roof-mounted, 14% system losses. Unit rate from Ofgem’s price cap for 1 Oct–31 Dec 2026. Export rate: Fuse Energy Single Rate Variable, September 2026. Installed cost: Sunsave, August 2026. Your own figures will depend on roof direction, shading and how much electricity you use in daylight.
Areas covered around Oldham
This guide covers OL1 (Oldham town centre, Higginshaw and part of Chadderton), OL2 (Royton and Shaw), OL3 (Delph, Dobcross, Diggle, Denshaw, Uppermill and Greenfield), OL4 (Lees, Springhead, Grasscroft and Grotton), OL8 (south Oldham, including Bardsley and Hollinwood), OL9 (Chadderton) and M35 (Failsworth). All ten firms are based locally, four of them in Royton or Shaw, but none is in OL3 or M35, so Saddleworth and Failsworth homes will be served by firms travelling a few miles. Simpli Green and Clad-It also work well beyond the borough.
Oldham town centreRoytonShawChaddertonFailsworthHollinwoodLeesSpringheadUppermillGreenfieldDelphDobcross
Postcode sectors from Streetlist (OL1–OL4, OL8, OL9, M35); ward names from postcodes.io. Hollinwood is a ward name rather than a Streetlist sector name.
Planning and grid connection in Oldham
- Conservation areas and listed buildingsThe draft Local Plan counts 36 conservation areas, covering around 255 hectares, and 550 listed buildings. Many are in the Saddleworth villages, among them Uppermill, Dobcross, Delph and Denshaw; others include Oldham Town Centre, Alexandra Park, Failsworth Pole and Saint Paul’s Royton. The council’s 2008 Renewable Energy SPD asks for care over visual impact in these areas, suggests the rear roof slope for listed buildings and advises talking to planners early.
- Peak District National ParkAlmost a quarter of the borough lies inside the Peak District National Park, and the Oldham Local Plan does not cover that part. If your home is in the Park, the Peak District National Park Authority, not Oldham Council, handles planning, so check its rules before you assume panels can go up without an application. We could not confirm which Saddleworth villages fall inside the boundary.
- Article 4 directionsThe only current Article 4 direction on the council’s website is a boroughwide one on houses in multiple occupation, in force since 1 January 2026, which has nothing to do with roofs. We found no Article 4 that restricts solar, though older conservation-area directions may exist on paper. Oldham’s planning team is on planning@oldham.gov.uk or 0161 770 3000.
- New Local PlanThe Oldham Local Plan to 2039 was submitted for examination on 14 August 2026 and will replace the 2011 Joint Core Strategy. Its draft climate policies are CC1, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2030, and CC2, which supports renewable energy.
- SP Electricity North WestOldham’s grid is run by SP Electricity North West, which took that name on 4 August 2025 after ScottishPower bought Electricity North West. A standard home system is registered with it after commissioning under G98, while bigger systems or large batteries usually need its consent in advance under G99.
Sources: Oldham Council (draft Local Plan December 2023, Local Plan examination page, Renewable Energy SPD 2008, Article 4 direction page, Green New Deal Strategy, Wrigley Head solar farm news); Planning Data (conservation areas); GMCA (Warm Homes: Local Grant); ScottishPower (SP Electricity North West); The Meteor (Oldham Community Power); Oldham Chronicle; Saddleworth Independent; Wikipedia (Oldham, Saddleworth).
Solar Panels Funded
MCS networkResidential & commercialFunding specialists
Solar Panels Funded is a Birmingham-based solar intermediary at Digbeth Court Business Centre, 162–164 High Street, Birmingham, B12 0LD. It doesn’t install panels itself; it matches Oldham homeowners with MCS-accredited installers from its network, so one enquiry brings back several quotes.
Because several of the borough’s certified firms have no website or published reviews, it can add installers from across Greater Manchester to the shortlist, and flag up early whether a home is in a Saddleworth conservation area or the Peak District National Park.
Best for One enquiry → multiple competitive quotes from vetted MCS-accredited installers.
Thomas Halliwell Ltd
MCSNICEICTesla Powerwall
Thomas Halliwell started out as an M&E contractor and still has its head office in Royton. It now installs solar PV, battery storage and EV charge points for domestic, commercial, industrial and utility customers, is a certified Tesla Powerwall installer and also does electrical, HVAC, plumbing and wind work. The company was incorporated in 2013 as Thomas Halliwell Electrical Ltd.
Its MCS listing shows 5.0 from seven Google reviews, which mention a Tesla battery expansion and adding new panels to an existing array. Its site displays many other trade logos, which we did not verify.
Best for Adding a battery or extending an existing array.
NPS Solar
MCSNAPITRECCTrustMark
NPS Energy, trading as NPS Solar, was incorporated in 2005 as NPS Electrical and renamed in 2020; it claims more than 20 years in the sector. It fits domestic and commercial solar and home batteries, produces a bespoke plan and feasibility report for each job and is a SolarEdge certified installer. Its project examples come from Oldham, Salford, Stockport, Hyde, Wilmslow and Alderley Edge.
Its MCS listing has no reviews yet, so ask for the testimonials shown on its website to be backed by references. It lists RECC, TrustMark and a Trading Standards approved code.
Best for A detailed feasibility report before you commit.
Simpli Green Ltd
MCSNAPIT
Simpli Green was incorporated in 2020 and works from a business centre in Hollinwood. It sells solar panels, batteries, air-source heat pumps and insulation, naming brands such as Trina Solar, SunPower, Tesla and Alpha ESS, offers finance and claims coverage from Essex to Scotland, so it is a national, insulation-heavy firm rather than a local solar specialist.
Its MCS listing shows 4.3 from 11 Google reviews, and they are mixed: older ones praise external wall insulation, but one from about six months ago complains of a fan isolator fitted inside a shower room, blocked guttering and a certificate issued without an inspection. Ask who will do your installation and how sign-off is handled.
Best for Bundling solar with insulation or a heat pump.
Electraspec UK Limited
MCSNAPIT
Electraspec is a Shaw electrical firm, incorporated in 2002, that advertises home and commercial solar and battery installs alongside general electrical work.
It has no reviews on its MCS listing, and its website gives no history, brands or accreditations, so ask what panels and inverters it fits and for recent local jobs.
Best for A long-established local electrician in Shaw.
Pennine Electrical (Saddleworth) Ltd
MCSNAPIT
Pennine Electrical is a Springhead firm, incorporated in 2016, with MCS certification for solar PV and battery storage. Its reviews describe a solar and battery install carried out alongside a roof replacement, as well as rewires and a heating fault.
Its MCS listing shows 5.0 from nine Google reviews. We found no website, so solar isn’t confirmed on a firm site; ask for references and a written specification.
Best for Homes towards Lees and Saddleworth.
Clad-It Solar Limited
MCSNICEIC
Clad-It is an industrial roofing, overcladding and asbestos-roof firm from Shaw, with offices in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds, and a solar division that handles survey, design, installation, batteries and EV add-ons, with funding by CAPEX, asset finance or PPA.
Its MCS listing shows 4.7 from 14 Google reviews, mostly about roofing and cladding. It is commercial-led and we saw no domestic solar offer, so it suits business premises more than a typical house; we kept it as a commercial option.
Best for Commercial roofs that need repair before solar.
B S Entwistle Electrical Contractors Ltd
MCSNICEIC
B S Entwistle is a Chadderton electrical contractor, incorporated in 1998, that also installs security alarms and holds MCS certification for solar PV.
Its MCS listing shows 3.9 from 14 Google reviews, but those we saw were about alarms, batteries and testing rather than solar. We couldn’t open its website to confirm its solar work, so ask for recent PV jobs.
Best for Households wanting one firm for electrics and alarms.
WBES (Oldham) Limited
MCSNAPIT
WBES (Oldham) is a young firm, incorporated in August 2024, with MCS certification for solar PV and batteries and an address less than a mile from the town centre.
It has no website or reviews. A separate WBES Solar PV Limited was registered in Manchester in 2026, but we couldn’t confirm a link, so check exactly which company you are contracting with.
Best for A town-centre quote to test on price.
Redstone Building Services (Y&NW)
MCSNICEIC
Redstone Building Services works from Lower Victoria Street in Chadderton and is MCS-certified for solar PV and battery storage.
We found no website or reviews and did not check its company record, so ask for references, insurance and proof of recent installs.
Best for A small independent quote near Chadderton.
DB Energy Group Ltd
MCSNICEIC
DB Energy Group is a Royton firm with MCS certification for solar PV and battery storage.
It has no website or published reviews, so treat it as a firm to compare on price and ask to see finished jobs and a written specification.
Best for An extra quote for Royton and north Oldham.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a grant for solar panels in Oldham?
Yes, potentially. Oldham residents apply through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which administers the borough’s Warm Homes: Local Grant; on GMCA’s area-based list, Bury, Rochdale and Tameside councils deliver their own. Eligible measures include solar PV, battery storage, insulation and heat pumps. Owner-occupiers need a home rated EPC D–G and either household income under £36,000, a means-tested benefit or an eligible low-income postcode, and can get up to £15,000 per measure type. GMCA’s pages don’t say whether applications are open, and list no phone number, so email localgrant@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk.
Do I need permission for panels in Uppermill, Dobcross or another Saddleworth village?
Possibly. Oldham has 36 conservation areas and many of them cover Saddleworth villages and hamlets, from Denshaw and Delph to Uppermill, Dobcross and Grasscroft. The council’s Renewable Energy SPD asks for care over how panels look in these areas and on listed buildings, where the rear slope may be preferred, and recommends speaking to planners before you start. We found no Article 4 direction that targets solar; the only current one covers HMOs.
What if my home is inside the Peak District National Park?
Almost a quarter of Oldham borough is in the Park, including Saddleworth Moor, and planning there sits with the Peak District National Park Authority rather than Oldham Council. We couldn’t confirm which villages are inside the boundary, so check your address with the Park Authority and ask it what applies to rooftop panels before booking an installer.
How much electricity do panels produce in Oldham?
PVGIS puts a south-facing 4kW system at 35° in central Oldham at about 3,346 kWh a year. The best month is May, at around 431 kWh, and December brings just 98 kWh. That is a touch below Manchester’s 3,444 kWh, which is close enough that roof direction and shading will matter far more than the town’s higher ground.
How much could an Oldham household save?
Each kWh an Oldham home uses from its own roof avoids the 26.49p North West cap charge, and spare units exported earn about 13p. Taking a self-use share of 40–60%, the panels are worth around £615–£705 a year, putting payback on a £6,490 system at roughly 9.2–10.5 years.
What solar projects are there in Oldham?
The council is close to finishing its first solar farm at Wrigley Head in Failsworth: an 888 kW array on council land, fully council-funded, expected to supply the equivalent of about 310 homes. Building began on 1 December 2025 and the council described it as nearing completion in August 2026, but it hadn’t been confirmed as generating when we checked. Oldham Community Power, a community benefit society, has around 220 kW on five schools and a community building, part-funded by a local share offer. The council set out its Green New Deal ambition in 2019, the same year it declared a climate emergency.
Is there a Solar Together group-buy for Oldham?
Not at the moment, as far as we can tell. Greater Manchester ran a Solar Together scheme with iChoosr in 2019, when more than 2,000 households signed up before the October auction, but its web page now redirects to a generic page that lists neither Greater Manchester nor Oldham. For now, comparing several quotes yourself is the way to test prices.
Final Thoughts
Before you get quotes in Oldham, find out whether your home is in one of the 36 conservation areas or inside the Peak District National Park, as that decides who you talk to about planning. If your income or benefits might qualify, email GMCA about the Warm Homes grant first, so you know whether funding is an option before paying for a system yourself.
Then get at least three quotes, ideally including one of the Royton or Shaw firms with a solar-focused website, and compare each installer’s output estimate for your roof against the 3,346 kWh figure above.
Related reading on Solar Panels Funded
Solar Energy Funding Specialist & Home Energy Advisor
Zachariah Eaton is a UK-based solar energy funding specialist with a focus on helping homeowners access grants, financing schemes, and cost-saving renewable solutions. He has spent years researching government-backed programmes such as ECO4, Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), and local funding initiatives to make solar more accessible. Zachariah writes practical, easy-to-understand guides that help households reduce energy bills and transition to clean energy with confidence.