Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is taking steps with heat network businesses to increase skills in local government for heat network zoning.

Zoning will transform the development of district heat networks in towns and cities across England, aiming to increase private sector investment in the sector significantly. The government is working with industry and local authorities – investing half a billion pounds in funds and programmes – to build the heat network pipeline and prepare for implementation of regulation and heat network zoning.

A joint project has just commenced with the Danish government and agencies to provide mentoring support to more local authorities. Heat networks have also been included in the £5 million Heat Training Grant to build capability in the sector. The Government will consider further proposals for how to ready local authorities for this responsibility as part of the consultation on heat network zoning planned for this Autumn.