Heat in Buildings Strategy - achieving net zero emissions in Scotland's buildings

Chapter 11 Monitoring, Evaluation and Future Decision Making

Monitoring and Evaluation

In order to ensure we are on track to achieve our long-term vision and track progress towards milestones, we will be monitoring and evaluating delivery. Monitoring and evaluation will allow us to adapt and flex our approach where necessary.

As well as looking at outputs, including policy and programme interventions, we will be monitoring and measuring outcomes and capturing the impact the transition to warmer, greener and more efficient homes and buildings has on Scotland’s people, businesses and communities.

A clear majority of respondents to the consultation expressed their agreement for the development of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the Heat in Buildings Strategy, which we will publish in due course, setting out:

• a comprehensive framework for monitoring progress against the objectives set in this Strategy covering homes, work places, public sector buildings and other non-domestic buildings. As the consultation suggested, we will aim to create a framework that is robust, independent, thorough and long term;
• a range of output and outcome indicators, linked to our outcomes (Chapter 2), to inform an annual statement of progress, taking account of the Climate Change Plan monitoring framework, as well as the monitoring and evaluation requirements for Fuel Poverty within the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) Act 2019.

We will build in evaluation to our delivery programmes, such as Warmer Homes Scotland, Area Based Schemes, the replacement to the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme and CARES, to ensure lessons are learned and inform future approaches and rollout.

Our work should be based on and driven by clear evidence and data. As such, we will be reviewing available data, identifying where any gaps exist and where we can draw on existing evidence, ensuring we have the most accurate baseline for our building stock. We will also curate exemplars of excellence and best practice, to inform future decisions on targets, regulations and delivery, as well as project and programme design.

It will be important that our Heat in Buildings Strategy stays current and reflects the latest thinking and developments in the UK, Europe and elsewhere in the world. As such, we will review the strategy in the mid-2020s, making any adjustments required and setting out more detailed actions to accelerate and drive progress through the second half of the decade to 2030.

Future Decision Making

Reflecting the expansion in our investment and delivery programmes we are refreshing our governance arrangements to provide appropriate oversight and strategic direction. We will continue to draw advice from stakeholders and advisors through a variety of channels, building on our productive External Advisory Group. This group is made up of a wide range of stakeholders representing different interests, including energy networks, consumers, supply chains and delivery partners.

Transforming Scotland’s homes, workplaces and community buildings is a shared endeavour. We set out earlier the importance of working with individuals and communities to secure this transition in a way that works with, and for, people. Local government will be a key partner in achieving delivery on the ground. We will continue to work with COSLA to strengthen and integrate governance arrangements on heat and energy efficiency, to ensure effective delivery over the long term.

One of the most important things we have heard to date is the need for certainty. This is needed to allow people and businesses to plan and phase investments and work. We know that uncertainty arising from changing priorities, targets and milestones, as well as support mechanisms, can slow down progress.

In order to overcome this, we have already committed to a 5-year capital budget for our heat and energy efficiency programmes and will, during this Parliament, bring forward regulations across energy efficiency and heating systems, setting the long-term statutory requirements for buildings to become zero emissions.

Summary of action we are taking:

108. We will publish a monitoring and evaluation framework in due course.

109. We will build in evaluation to our delivery programmes, to ensure lessons are learned and inform future approaches and rollout.

110. We will refresh our governance arrangements to provide appropriate oversight and strategic direction as we expand our investment and delivery.

111. We will continue to work with COSLA to strengthen and integrate governance arrangements on heat and energy efficiency to ensure effective delivery over the long term.