The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published its response to the 2023 consultation on heat network zoning in England on 21 January 20261. The consultation ran from 10am on 18 December 2023 to 11:59pm on 26 February 2024 and has now concluded1.
The department received 156 responses1. Among those who responded were 45 local authorities and 5 combined authorities, 12 heat network developers, 11 trade associations, 11 charities and interest groups, 9 heat suppliers, 8 housing associations, 5 supply chain companies and 5 housing developers1. The remaining 44 respondents fell into categories with fewer than five respondents each, which the department said it has not listed1. The department stated that stakeholder responses supported most of its proposals1.
The response covers how consultation feedback was considered in the policy design for heat network zoning, including the role of central and local government, zone identification, requirements in zones such as consumer protections and emissions, and zone delivery, meaning selecting developers and ensuring construction1. The original 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 will work with industry and local stakeholders to identify and designate zones where heat networks are the lowest-cost solution to decarbonising heat."
The published outcome documents comprise a summary of the government response, a 170-page government response PDF and an accessible webpage version1. The consultation itself was supported by a 110-page consultation document and an 82-page stage impact assessment1.
Why it matters for households
Heat network zoning concerns areas where a shared network, rather than an individual home heating system, is designated as the lowest-cost route to decarbonised heat1. For a household inside a designated zone, the practical questions are about consumer protections, emissions standards and whether connection is required, all of which the consultation addressed and the response now covers1. The policy design also determines who selects developers and how construction is assured, which affects how and when a network reaches a street1. The response does not set out zone locations, and no zones have been reported as designated. Households outside any future zone would not be affected by zoning requirements, though the wider framework for heat network regulation applies to existing and planned networks. The consultation process itself sits within the broader system of energy consultations and how policy is made, and the department responsible is DESNZ.
What happens next
The government response has been published, and the consultation has concluded1. No further dated steps, such as a timetable for designating zones or laying secondary legislation, have been reported in the published outcome.