In this blog, Poppy Maltby, head of cities and regions at Regen, reflects on the findings from our recent research into the role of local authorities in decarbonising heat and how a local approach could help address the current cost of living and affordability crisis.
The research resulted in the publication of ‘The Local Delivery of Clean Heat‘.
This month we published our report on local delivery of clean heat, highlighting the role that local authorities could play in leading heat decarbonisation.
Over the last few months, we spoke to a lot of people to get their views about where local government and local leaders, with their unique reach into communities, could play a leading role in heat decarbonisation.
We saw evidence of two broad roles for local government in this space.
Given those roles, the key question we asked in the report is how local authorities and national government can work together to scale up heat decarbonisation and reduce the cost of net zero. 333 local authorities replicating activity and working out independently what to do is clearly not efficient.
A key part of the answer is more coordinated and clear national support – frameworks essentially for how national and local government can best work together to address the challenge.
The good news is that the Net Zero Strategy recognises this necessity, but the reality is that there are limited examples of this. What we need now is to transform the ability of local authorities to deliver these roles effectively and cost efficiently.
Local authorities need clear roles and funding but also central support for developing methodologies, data provision and policy frameworks to avoid replication of effort and cost at local authority and regional level.
The report sets out six specific and practical recommendations towards building that clearer framework of local powers on planning for and delivering heat decarbonisation.
Summary of recommendations for a national and local partnership on heat decarbonisation from ‘The Local Delivery of Clean Heat‘.
Given the cost of living and affordability crisis, a critical recommendation in the report is that local authorities carry out ‘energy efficiency zoning’ and that national government develop the methodology for them to do this, based on housing stock and factors such as fuel poverty and local climate.
Through our research, we heard clearly that the current competitive and short-term funding for energy efficiency schemes for the public sector and vulnerable households is causing huge inefficiencies and inequalities. Funding is not strategic or based on need.
Energy efficiency zoning at a local authority level would provide a much needed basis on which to deliver a better, long term and strategic approach to energy efficiency. It would enable local authorities to deliver strategic area-based and targeted energy efficiency and heat initiatives.
Our research also found that there is no shortage of pioneering and inspiring local initiatives on decarbonising heat – but these exist unevenly across England. We cannot rely only on leading areas to get us where we need to go. We also need more action on working to bring up the rear by providing clear local government roles, powers and funding on heat and retrofit.
If we release the potential of local government to lead the heat transformation we could make a huge contribution to ensuring people across England benefit from warmer, cheaper to heat (and cool!) homes.
Read ‘The Local Delivery of Clean Heat’ for our recommendations on a framework for a partnership between national and local government on heat decarbonisation.
