Newcastle heat network zone

Newcastle already has several networks, including the Byker estate scheme and the Helix development, where the network expanded in 2025. In October 2026 the housing association Karbon Homes tendered a contract to design, finance and operate the Byker network. Neither is a zone appointment.

1. September 2024

   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)

10 possible zones. The strategic zones are Newcastle Centre and Newcastle Walker; smaller zones include the Airport, Kenton, Gosforth, Heaton and Newburn.

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.

We have found no appointed or bidding developer for Newcastle.

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.

• Helix · Bring Energy, with the council

  Source: Colleges' cleaner future as flagship heat network expands (Newcastle City Council, Sep 2025)

• Byker District Heat Network · Karbon Homes

  Tender to design, build, finance and operate published October 2026.

  Source: Heat network zone opportunity report: Newcastle (by Arup)

• Newcastle University and Northumbria University campus networks

  Source: Heat network zone opportunity report: Newcastle (by Arup)

• 14 Feb 2025First 15 zone opportunity reports published
• 23 Sep 2024First zoning pilot outputs: heat network zone maps

1. Heat networks zoning pilot (updated 25 November 2025) — Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 25 November 2025
2. Heat network zone opportunity report: Newcastle (by Arup) — Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 14 February 2025

Record last checked 8 November 2026.