Heat Networks Zoning Pilot
The zone identification pilot set out to develop a consistent, standardised methodology to identify areas where heat networks are expected to provide the lowest cost, low carbon heat to buildings.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
We have published the following early outputs from this pilot to assist stakeholders:
- Heat network zoning maps of the 28 pilot locations which identify where, within those locations, heat networks exist and/or are likely to grow or be built out in the future
- Heat network zone opportunity reports to aid understanding of the scale of the opportunities, the methodology used, and how the district heat network opportunities could be presented to potential investors or developers. The methodology is available in a supporting statement
- watch our Market engagement webinar series recordings, showcasing the market opportunities from early zone development in a selection of these pilot areas
Please note: these reports and the maps are from the pilot phase of the heat network zoning policy and process development. The contents of both maps and reports are likely to change. They should not be relied on for business decisions.
Heat Networks and Zones Service
The Opportunity reports and maps linked to above were based on an early iteration of the heat network national zoning model.
We are developing a new Heat Networks and Zones Service website which will enable stakeholders to search for heat network opportunity areas locally or nationally throughout England.
This new service will use the most up-to-date version of the model and include updated interactive mapping data, supported with guidance, technical information and data on these areas to show heat demand, heat sources and the number of potential customers.
Zoning pilot projects
The heat network zone identification pilot has developed a methodology for identifying those geographic areas where heat networks are expected to provide the lowest-cost, low-carbon heat to buildings. These are the areas that would have the potential to become heat network zones under Heat Network Zoning policy.
The pilot involved testing and refining the methodology and defining the principles of what a heat network zone could look like in practice. During the pilot we worked with 28 local authority partners across England as well as technical and modelling consultants to test the methodology in different areas. This helped us understand issues such as how zone boundaries should be defined and what data is required to determine zone boundaries.
Lessons from the pilot have been used to inform the development of Heat Network Zoning Policy. Following publication of the response to the Heat network zoning consultation, we updated the methodology to reflect the final policy position and undertook detailed quality assurance of the model ahead of the launch of the new Heat Networks and Zones Service to allow stakeholders to view potential heat network opportunity areas on a map.
Where a heat network zone is designated, a heat network developer will be appointed to design, install and operate the district heat network. The more detailed reports for the pilot locations illustrate the type of information that could be made available to a heat network developer.
Further information
If you have any comments or queries about these reports and maps please send them to: heatnetworks@energysecurity.gov.uk.
Background
The Energy Act 2023 contains powers to introduce heat network zoning, and to address some of the barriers facing district heat networks in England via secondary legislation (regulations). In 2023 we consulted on proposals to information the secondary legislation and the government response was published in January 2026.
The local authorities that participated in the heat network zoning pilot were:
- Barking & Dagenham, Birmingham, Bridlington, Bristol, Canterbury, Carlisle, Cheltenham, Coventry, Darlington, Exeter, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Hull, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Northallerton, Norwich, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Sheffield, Southampton, Southwark, Stoke, Strood, and Sunderland
The pilot involved engaging with the wider heat network industry as well as those with a broader interest in the decarbonisation of heat.
Updates to this page
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Published a link to Heat Network Advanced Zoning Programme: Market Engagement Series Webinar 9.
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Added Heat network zoning: market engagement webinar recordings list.
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Updated information on the latest outputs of this pilot.
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The first outputs from the heat network zoning pilot are available and can be used to identify where heat networks exist and/or are highly likely to grow or be built out in the future.
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Privacy notice: clarification on how commercial data and information provided to the Zoning Programme will be processed.
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Autumn 2022 update on pilot published.
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First published.