Global City Futures are accelerating the delivery of zonal scale, low carbon heat networks, as part of the national consultant framework to deliver project management, commercial and financial support to the DESNZ Heat Network Zoning Programme. 

Net zero challenge

Heat networks are a vital part of the UK Government’s (UKG) target to achieve net zero by 2050. 

The UK’s heat network zoning policy in England aims to identify and designate areas where heat networks are expected to be the lowest cost solution for decarbonising heat. 

Global City Futures were appointed to the national consultant framework to deliver project management, commercial and financial support to the DESNZ Heat Network Zoning Programme in 2024. 

Our consulting team was tasked with developing commercially robust financial planning for public sector organisations identified by the Advanced Zoning Programme (AZP).

AZP is working with 21 locations across England to accelerate the delivery of zonal scale heat network support the construction of new zonal scale heat networks as quickly as possible following the introduction of heat network zoning policy.

More on the Heat Networks Zoning Pilot from Gov.UK 

The Global City Futures solution

Global City Futures (GCF) was appointed in multiple different roles across 7 of the 21 pilot cities under AZP, providing a comprehensive range of services. This included:

  • Production of Zonal Outline Business Cases (ZOBC)
  • Engagement with Council officers to identify their preferred delivery and funding model and procurement strategy
  • Full economic appraisals, modelling carbon savings and air quality improvements
  • Financial modelling to apply indexation, taxation and a financing solution for the scheme
  • Stakeholder engagement with potential public and private sector off-takers to test their appetite and the feasibility to connect to a zonal heat network
  • Preparation of Cabinet Reports to request approval to launch a procurement process to appoint a Development Partner.

With our coordinated and experienced approach, GCF ensured each pilot city was positioned to move from feasibility to commercialisation under the heat zoning framework.

The positive result

GCF’s expert consultancy delivered tangible outcomes across the pilot cities, including:

 

  • Cabinet Approval of the ZOBC to allow progression to the procurement phase
  • Increased readiness – council officers and members fully briefed on the proposed legislative and regulatory framework under heat network zoning
  • Broadened stakeholder awareness of heat network zoning and the AZP project in different pilot locations among key heat off-takers and heat suppliers
  • Clarification of project risks, both technical and non-technical for a breadth of public and private sector stakeholders, grouped under common themes
  • Shared best practices and lessons learned across the AZP, enhancing the wider programme’s impact and scalability.

We brought financial rigour and strategic clarity into the planning of the pilot projects, becoming one of the key members of the framework in ensuring the delivery of the UK’s low-carbon heat infrastructure.

To learn more about how Global City Futures supports public and private organisations with their decarbonisation objectives, explore our full portfolio or get in touch with our consultancy team.



Project lead, partners and stakeholders