Pembroke is Wales’s most intact medieval walled town, and that distinction creates the most planning-complex domestic solar environment in the FLD Pembrokeshire coverage area. The combination of a Norman castle, intact town walls, a Conservation Area covering the entire historic core, and a high density of listed buildings makes Pembroke’s domestic solar market one where planning advice must precede every survey.
SA71 yield: the Pembrokeshire premium
The PVGIS baseline for SA71 runs at 990 to 1,000 kWh/kWp — among the highest domestic solar yield figures in the UK outside the Channel Islands. Pembroke’s position on the south-western tip of the Pembrokeshire peninsula gives year-round generation performance materially better than anywhere else in the FLD coverage area.
For a 4 kWp residential installation at SA71, the yield advantage over a Swansea installation generates approximately 200 kWh more annually — worth approximately £56 per year at 28p/kWh, or approximately £1,400 over 25 years.
Walled town: the planning reality
Listed building consent from Pembrokeshire County Council is required for any solar installation on a listed Pembroke property. In-roof integrated solar using heritage-appropriate roof profiles is the only specification that reliably satisfies conservation officers for listed buildings in the walled town. Panel-over-tile frame-mounted systems are not acceptable on listed building principal elevations in this conservation area. FLD establishes listing status and planning position at enquiry stage before committing to a site survey.
Rear-pitch installations: the practical route
For most Pembroke town-centre properties, the practical solar installation is on the rear pitch, which faces south or south-west and is generally not visible from principal public viewpoints along Main Street and the castle approach.
Pembroke Dock payback
Pembroke Dock (Doc Penfro) residential stock — mostly post-war semi-detached and 1980s estate properties — is outside historic walled town conservation constraints. At SA72 yield of 985 to 995 kWh/kWp, a 4 kWp south-facing Pembroke Dock semi generates 3,960 kWh annually. At 38% self-consumption, year-one benefit: approximately £747. On £7,100 installed cost, payback: 9.5 years.
Celtic Freeport residential growth
The Celtic Freeport development at Pembroke Dock is expected to attract significant workforce housing demand as the offshore wind supply chain develops. FLD tracks planning applications in the Celtic Freeport residential growth zones and advises developers on solar specification at pre-planning stage.
Getting a Pembroke survey
FLD covers SA71 on regular Pembrokeshire survey days. We confirm planning position before survey for all Pembroke walled town enquiries. Call Paul on 01792 680611.
