Leeds heat network zone
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Summary
Where Leeds has got to
Leeds was named in October 2024 among the first places to develop a heat network zone, building on the council-owned Leeds PIPES network. In February 2026 the council awarded Hemiko the role of development and funding partner for the city-centre network, with South Bank first; detailed proposals are expected in early 2027. This is a council appointment ahead of the regulations, not a statutory zone developer.
Status
Stage history
- 1Pilot
Listed among the 28 places in the government's heat network zoning pilot, which published its first outputs in September 2024.
Source: Heat networks zoning pilot (GOV.UK) - 2Zone development area
Named by government as one of the first places to develop a heat network zone, sharing £5.8m of Advanced Zoning Programme funding.
Source: Six towns and cities to pilot clean heating innovation (GOV.UK, 25 Oct 2024)
Geography
Zone boundaries and candidate areas
One strategic zone, Leeds City Centre, takes in the existing PIPES network, South Bank and the Aire Valley. Smaller zones include Morley, Farsley and Whinmoor.
Source: Heat network zone opportunity report: Leeds (by Arup)Candidate areas come from government-commissioned studies and council work. They are not legal boundaries. A zone’s boundary is fixed only when it is designated under the zoning regulations.
Delivery
Developers and partners
| Organisation | Role | Date |
|---|---|---|
| HemikoAppointed development and funding partner for the city-centre network, with South Bank as the first phase. The council's Executive Board approved the appointment on 11 March 2026.Source: Next phase of low-carbon heat network set to reach thousands more residents (Leeds City Council, Mar 2026) | Development or delivery partner (outside the statutory process) | 18 Feb 2026 |
No statutory zone developer can be appointed until a zone is designated. Partners appointed by councils before then are listed as development or delivery partners.
Today
Existing heat networks
Leeds PIPES · Leeds City Council, with Vital Energi
Uses heat from the Leeds Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility, operated by Veolia.
Source: Heat network zone opportunity report: Leeds (by Arup)
Paper trail
Council and government documents
| Date | Document |
|---|---|
| Next phase of low-carbon heat network set to reach thousands more residentsLeeds City Council | |
| Heat network zone opportunity report: Leeds (by Arup)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | |
| Six towns and cities to pilot clean heating innovationDepartment for Energy Security and Net Zero |
Changelog
Changes logged for Leeds
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Sources
Sources for this page
- Heat networks zoning pilot (updated 25 November 2025) — Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 25 November 2025
- Six towns and cities to pilot clean heating innovation — Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 25 October 2024
- Heat network zone opportunity report: Leeds (by Arup) — Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 14 February 2025
- Next phase of low-carbon heat network set to reach thousands more residents — Leeds City Council, 24 March 2026
Record last checked .