Farming around Pershore
Pershore is at the heart of the Vale of Evesham, famous for Pershore plums, asparagus and soft fruit. The Avon valley floor carries intensive horticultural and fruit-growing enterprises with high electricity use in cold stores, irrigation systems and packhouses. Mixed dairy farming dominates the lower ground towards the River Severn, while arable operations work the rising ground towards Bredon Hill. Pershore College (a Harper Adams University affiliate) is the regional agricultural training centre and sits at the heart of the local farming community, with strong links to the RPA and Defra advisers who guide farm grant applications.
Local installation profile
- County: Worcestershire
- Local authority: Wychavon District Council
- DNO: NGED — typical G99 turnaround 8-14 weeks
- Solar irradiance: 975 kWh/m²/yr
- Population: 7,500
- Neighbouring areas covered: Evesham, Worcester, Upton upon Severn, Tewkesbury, Bredon, Eckington
- Nearest installation hub: Midlands hub
Planning and grid considerations
Malvern Hills AONB applies to the western edge of the Pershore area — ground-mount within the boundary requires full planning. Flood Risk Zones 2 and 3 run along the River Avon corridor and affect battery storage building planning. Wychavon District Council requires ecology surveys for ground-mount systems over 50 kW. Some traditional timber-framed fruit barns require structural assessment before panel loading.
Grants and tax relief for Pershore farms
- ✓ Improving Farm Productivity grant (England) — 25% towards solar capital costs; the FETF closed for good on 28 April 2026. Full grant guide.
- ✓ 100% Annual Investment Allowance — write down residual cost in year one. Reduces £60k net to an effective £36k cash outlay in year one.
- ✓ Smart Export Guarantee — roughly 4–12p/kWh, as at July 2026, for surplus generation exported to grid
- ✓ SFI Orchard Management, Agroforestry and Horticultural Soil Improvement options — among the most widely claimed payments in the Pershore area
Typical farm solar projects near Pershore
| Farm type | System | Gross cost | After AIA + grant | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit farm + cold store (20-100 ac) | 50-150 kWp | £35-105k | £19-56k | 1.6-2.0 yr |
| Dairy (100-250 head, Avon valley) | 65-130 kWp | £45-91k | £24-49k | 1.7-2.2 yr |
| Horticultural (asparagus, brassicas) | 50-120 kWp | £35-84k | £19-45k | 1.7-2.2 yr |
| Arable (300-800 ac, towards Bredon) | 50-180 kWp | £35-126k | £19-67k | 2.0-2.5 yr |
What's included in every Pershore quote
- ✓ Free desk feasibility from your half-hourly meter data (3 working days)
- ✓ On-site structural and electrical survey
- ✓ grant application written and submitted
- ✓ NGED G99 grid connection application managed end-to-end
- ✓ MCS-certified Tier-1 panels (Trina, JA Solar, REC, SunPower)
- ✓ Asbestos cement roofing assessed; licensed removal coordinated if needed
- ✓ 25-year panel warranty, 10-year inverter, 5-year workmanship
- ✓ IWA insurance-backed warranty for 10 years even if we cease trading
- ✓ Annual maintenance contracts from £250/year