The Government has announced development of England's first-ever heat network zones, based in Leeds, Plymouth, Bristol, Stockport, Sheffield, and two in London. The schemes will receive a share of £5.8m of funding, with construction expected to start from 2026.

Heat network zones use data to identify the best spots and help to plan and build the technology at scale. Types of buildings that could connect to a network include those that are already communally heated, and large non-domestic buildings over a certain size, such as hospitals, universities, hotels, supermarkets, and office blocks. For example excess heat from data centres which would otherwise be wasted will provide heating in the Old Oak and Park Royal Development, while the system planned in Leeds will take heat from a nearby glass factory to warm connected buildings.

The six selected towns and cities are part of the Government’s plan to accelerate the delivery of heat networks across England and learnings from these pilots will inform future projects.

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