Plans for Solar Power installation enquiry
Case reference FOI2026/02091
Received 30 September 2026
Published 27 October 2026
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, could you please provide the following information:
Please provide the following information relating to solar photovoltaic (PV) installations on buildings or carparks owned or occupied by the Council.
For the purposes of this request, include PV installations on operational buildings, schools, depots, leisure facilities, car parks/carports and other Council-owned properties.
Strategy and Plans
1. Does the Council have a documented plan, programme, strategy or approved business case relating to the installation of rooftop solar PV on its estate?
If yes, please provide:
The title of the document(s)
The approval date
A copy of the document(s) or a web link where available
2. What stage best describes the Council's current rooftop solar programme?
Please indicate all that apply:
No current plans
Initial opportunities identified
Feasibility studies underway
Business case(s) approved
Funding secured
Procurement underway
Installers appointed
Installation programme underway
Pipeline and Timescales
3. Does the Council currently have a pipeline of future rooftop solar projects?
If yes, please provide:
Number of buildings identified
Number of buildings assessed for feasibility
Number of buildings approved for installation
Total MW of installed solar aimed for.
4. Please provide the anticipated timescales for delivery of planned rooftop solar projects, including:
Projects expected within 12 months
Projects expected within 1-3 years
Projects expected beyond 3 years
Funding and Budget
5. Has the Council allocated capital budget for future rooftop solar installations?
If yes, please provide:
Budget amount allocated (or budget range if exact figures cannot be disclosed)
Financial year(s) covered
6. What funding sources does the Council expect to use for planned rooftop solar projects?
Please indicate all applicable sources:
Existing capital budget
Capital receipts
Prudential borrowing
PWLB borrowing
Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
Great British Energy funding
Community energy investment
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) or third-party finance
Other (please specify)
7. Does the Council currently have a formal relationship, partnership, memorandum of understanding, framework agreement or active project with any Community Energy organisation?
If yes, please provide:
Name of the organisation(s)
Nature of the relationship
Whether rooftop solar forms part of that relationship
Procurement and Delivery
8. Has the Council already procured, appointed or framework-selected one or more suppliers for future rooftop solar delivery?
If yes, please provide:
Supplier name(s)
Procurement route used
Contract start and end dates (where available)
9. For future rooftop solar projects not yet procured, what procurement route does the Council currently expect to use?
Please indicate all that apply:
Open tender
Framework agreement
Dynamic Purchasing System
Not yet determined
10. If a framework route is expected to be used, please identify the framework(s) being considered.
Decision-Making
11. Has the Council undertaken rooftop solar feasibility studies, condition surveys or estate-wide solar opportunity assessments within the past three years?
If yes, please provide:
Date completed
Number of sites assessed
Copies of reports where available
12. What are the principal barriers currently preventing faster deployment of rooftop solar across the Council estate?
For example:
Funding constraints
Roof condition
Grid capacity
Internal resources
Planning or heritage constraints
Competing capital priorities
Other reasons
13. Please identify the Council officer, team or department with primary responsibility for the development and delivery of rooftop solar PV projects across the Council estate.
Job title
Service/team name
Email address or contact point
14. Please provide the name of the officer or team responsible for procuring solar PV installations and associated professional services.
Job title
Service/team name
Email address or contact point
Response
Thank you for your recent request under the Freedom of Information Act.
Please find the response to your queries below:
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, could you please provide the following information:
Please provide the following information relating to solar photovoltaic (PV) installations on buildings or carparks owned or occupied by the Council.
For the purposes of this request, include PV installations on operational buildings, schools, depots, leisure facilities, car parks/carports and other Council-owned properties.
Strategy and Plans
1. Does the Council have a documented plan, programme, strategy or approved business case relating to the installation of rooftop solar PV on its estate?
No.
If yes, please provide:
The title of the document(s)
The approval date
A copy of the document(s) or a web link where available
N/A
2. What stage best describes the Council's current rooftop solar programme?
Please indicate all that apply:
Initial opportunities identified
3. Does the Council currently have a pipeline of future rooftop solar projects?
No, but we are in the very early stages of a feasibility study.
If yes, please provide:
Number of buildings identified
Number of buildings assessed for feasibility – approximately 13.
Number of buildings approved for installation
Total MW of installed solar aimed for.
4. Please provide the anticipated timescales for delivery of planned rooftop solar projects, including:
Projects expected within 1-3 years
5. Has the Council allocated capital budget for future rooftop solar installations?
One.
If yes, please provide:
Budget amount allocated (or budget range if exact figures cannot be disclosed)
Financial year(s) covered
2025/26
6. What funding sources does the Council expect to use for planned rooftop solar projects?
Please indicate all applicable sources: Decided on a site by site basis.
Existing capital budget
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
7. Does the Council currently have a formal relationship, partnership, memorandum of understanding, framework agreement or active project with any Community Energy organisation?
No.
If yes, please provide:
Name of the organisation(s)
Nature of the relationship
Whether rooftop solar forms part of that relationship
Procurement and Delivery
N/A
8. Has the Council already procured, appointed or framework-selected one or more suppliers for future rooftop solar delivery?
No.
If yes, please provide:
Supplier name(s)
Procurement route used
Contract start and end dates (where available)
N/A
9. For future rooftop solar projects not yet procured, what procurement route does the Council currently expect to use?
Please indicate all that apply:
Not yet determined
10. If a framework route is expected to be used, please identify the framework(s) being considered.
N/A
Decision-Making
11. Has the Council undertaken rooftop solar feasibility studies, condition surveys or estate-wide solar opportunity assessments within the past three years?
Yes.
If yes, please provide:
Date completed
Number of sites assessed – 9 commercial sites (including the Guildford Spectrum and the Lido) and 20 residential sites have been investigated as potential options at this stage, though no decisions have been taken yet.
Copies of reports where available
12. What are the principal barriers currently preventing faster deployment of rooftop solar across the Council estate?
For example:
Other reasons – Local Government Reorganisation for Surrey.
13. Please identify the Council officer, team or department with primary responsibility for the development and delivery of rooftop solar PV projects across the Council estate.
Job title – Joint Climate and Sustainability Manager Waverley and Guildford Borough Councils.
Service/team name – Sustainability Team.
Email address or contact point – sustainability@waverley.gov.uk
14. Please provide the name of the officer or team responsible for procuring solar PV installations and associated professional services.
Job title – Procurement Support Officer
Service/team name – Procurement
Email address or contact point – procurement@guildford.gov.uk
Yours sincerely
FOI Team
Guildford Borough Council
Documents
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