The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has published its response to the 2023 consultation on proposals for heat network zoning in England, covering the role of central and local government, zone identification, requirements in zones and zone delivery1. The consultation itself ran from 10am on 18 December 2023 to 11:59pm on 26 February 2024, and the outcome page records that it has concluded1. The page was last updated on 21 January 2026, when the government response was published1.
The consultation sought views on proposals for heat network zoning in England, with the stated aim of attracting investment and giving local communities access to cheaper, greener heat sooner1. Under zoning, central and local government would work with industry and local stakeholders to identify and designate zones where heat networks are the lowest-cost solution to decarbonising heat1. The consultation set out detail on requirements in zones, including consumer protections, emissions and requirements to connect, and on zone delivery, covering the selection of developers and ensuring construction1.
The department received 156 responses1. It listed the following respondent categories:
| Respondent type | Number |
|---|---|
| Local authorities | 45 |
| Combined authorities | 5 |
| Heat network developers | 12 |
| Trade associations | 11 |
| Charities and interest groups | 11 |
| Heat suppliers | 9 |
| Housing associations | 8 |
| Supply chain companies | 5 |
| Housing developers | 5 |
The categories for the remaining 44 respondents had fewer than five respondents each, so the department said it had not listed them1. It stated that stakeholder responses supported most of its proposals1.
"Under zoning, central and local government will work with industry and local stakeholders to identify and designate zones where heat networks are the lowest-cost solution to decarbonising heat."
Why it matters for households
Heat network zoning concerns homes that are, or could be, connected to a shared heat network rather than having their own boiler or heat pump. The consultation covered requirements that would apply inside designated zones, including consumer protections, emissions rules and requirements to connect1. Those three areas bear directly on a household's control over how its home is heated and on the terms it is offered. The government's stated rationale is that zoning identifies areas where networks are the lowest-cost way to decarbonise heat, which is a cost claim about the area rather than about any individual property1. The response document runs to 170 pages and addresses the role of central and local government, zone identification, requirements in zones and zone delivery1. The outcome page does not set out a timetable for designating zones, and no dates for further steps are given there1.
What happens next
The consultation has concluded and the government response has been published1. The outcome page lists a summary of the government response, the full response as a PDF and an accessible webpage version1. No further consultation or implementation dates are stated on the page1.