Solar Farm, Leicestershire Police Headquarters, Enderby

Project overview

Leicestershire Police set out to reduce the carbon footprint of its headquarters estate at Enderby while insulating the force from volatile energy prices. The answer was a small ground-mounted solar farm sited within the HQ grounds — an approach believed to be a UK policing first, and one that had to be built without disrupting a 24/7 operational police facility.

Norvek delivered the scheme with single-point responsibility for programme, cost, safety and quality. Working inside a secure estate meant every delivery, lift and excavation was planned around operational policing, restricted access and vetting requirements, with the live HQ distribution network kept in service throughout.

The works ran from enabling and groundworks through frame installation, panel erection, DC and AC electrical infrastructure and grid interface, to full testing and commissioning. The facility went live on 30 April 2025 and generated 931.7 kilowatt hours on its first day — enough to power all the homes in a small village.

Commercially, the force expects to save £63,525 in the first year based on current energy prices, with the £350,000 installation cost likely to be recouped within five years and the equivalent of £2.1m of energy generated over 25 years. Every unit produced is consumed on site, with the server rooms and canteen taking the largest share.

The solar farm sits alongside rooftop PV already installed at Oakham, Loughborough and Hinckley Road, and forms part of a wider estates strategy covering fleet electrification and the replacement of gas heating with heat pump technology.