Local Authorities

Local Authorities are crucial to the government’s plans to expand the use if district energy in the UK. They own ESCOs, provide anchor loads, deal with planning and highways permissions for construction, procure heat networks and are likely to soon be involved in establishing heat network zones.

All of this is set against the backdrop of the multiple other roles and responsibilities that Local Authorities have, and within the context of Local Government Reorganisation

Our experienced teams work alongside Local Authorities to support the integration of heat networks projects within wider portfolios.

Our Points of Connection service provides free information for Local Authorities who have, or are considering heat networks, and focuses, not only on district energy but also on the nexus between this and other Local Authority spheres of influence and interest

District Energy: Points of Connection

Webinars

Take an in-depth look with our selection of relevant webinars

Points of Connection Webinar Series

Heat Network Licensing and Planning – Navigating the Interface

Ofgem Authorisation Conditions – what do they mean for your organisation?

Building Regulations and H&S

UKDEA: What do you need to know about the Procurement Act 2023?

Managing Customer Data | Bevan Brittan LLP

The Employment Rights Bill 2024 - Key Changes for Employers

Property: is it more than just pipes?

"Local Authorities across the country have been taking a leading role in decarbonisation and are key drivers of the development of heat networks. It is always a pleasure to work with Local Authority teams supporting throughout the district energy lifecycle from Outline Business Cases and creation of TECKAL companies, through heat network delivery and day-to-day operation to eventual divestment"
Carrie Davies

Articles

Explore our latest legal insights in this area:

Heat Network Zoning Coordination – early-stage considerations for Local Authorities

The intersection between Local Government Reorganisation and Heat Networks

District energy projects – corporate structuring considerations for local authorities

Devolution, local government reorganisation and district energy

What do recent announcements about the Warm Homes Plan and heat network zoning mean for local authorities?

Planning law and heat networks – navigating the interface: Part one

Planning law and heat networks – navigating the interface: Part two

The future of heat networks: regulation, zoning and growth in 2026

Heat networks: a guide to prepare for registration

Thank you again for all of your brilliant advice and support. I will never forget it and will always recommend you
Chief Executive of a Local Authority

External resources

Our approach

We have been advising a London Borough Council in procurement and delivery of its district energy network on two separate regeneration schemes.

We advised from OBC through to commercialisation, including the procurement strategy and documentation for DBOM and metering and billing arrangements and the procurement of an iDNO solution and associated adoption agreements.

Our work on the project also included contracts for heat supply, DBOM, M&B, and various forms of connection and supply agreements.

We advised the Council on the available models under which to deliver its project (including direct delivery or use of a corporate structure). This required analysis of the Council’s vires and the benefits and risks of each potential model. We also advised on the extent to which a special purpose vehicle may be able to benefit from statutory powers. Working closely with the project team we developed a set of recommendations which we presented to the relevant stakeholders within the Council.

We worked to facilitate a simplified property structure and provided property advice including drafting / negotiating chains of easements and consideration of the physical separation of servient land from the benefiting dominant tenement.

We also provided data protection / information law advice to the Council in relation to the appointed DBOM contractor accessing personal data about customers on the heat network.