Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies Review

LHEES are at the heart of a place based, locally led and tailored approach to delivering the transition to climate-friendly, more energy efficient homes and non-domestic buildings. These local Strategies will underpin an area-based approach to heat and energy efficiency planning and delivery. They will set out the long-term plan for decarbonising heat in buildings and improving their energy efficiency across an entire local authority area.

The Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (Scotland) Order 2022 came into force on 21 May 2022. The Order sets out a legal requirement for local authorities to produce Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and Delivery Plans by 31 December 2023 and update them every five years. The Order was developed in partnership with COSLA and creates a clear statutory basis that will ensure consistency and comprehensive coverage across Scotland against a common minimum standard, raising the profile of local Strategies with industry and investors.

To fulfil their statutory duty as set out in the Order, the Scottish Government has published LHEES Guidance, which sets out what is required in terms of the production and content of an LHEES. The Scottish Government has also made available to all 32 local authorities an LHEES Methodology, which is a more detailed, step by step approach, representing best practice in how to produce an LHEES. However the LHEES Methodology isn’t mandatory, local authorities are able to modify their approach to reflect local circumstances as long as they fulfil the requirements as set out in the LHEES Guidance.