Heat Network Zone (HNZ) guidance

4 Part C

Part C of the proforma supports a local authority to fulfil requirements under section 48(3) and section 48(4) of the Act. The completion of Part A and Part B of the proforma should allow the local authority to form a judgement of whether to designate an area as a Heat Network Zone.

In Part C, there is a box to be completed which summarises the key considerations for designation, this draws together the outputs of Parts A and B to act as an overall justification for the local authority's decision of whether to designate the area as a Heat Network Zone. There is a drop-down menu in Part C of the proforma which documents the decision.

Section 48(4) requires that, if a local authority designates and area as a Heat Network Zone, it must:

a. identify the area in a document by reference to a map,

b. specify in the document the day on which designation takes effect, and

c. publish the document in such a manner as the Scottish Ministers may specify by regulations.

The detail regarding publication of this designation document is included in the Heat Networks (Heat Network Zones and Building Assessment Reports) (Scotland) Regulations 2023.

Within the proforma, there is also a box in which to enter the date of the designation decision, this may differ from the date the designation decision takes effect noted in section 48(4)(b).

The requirement for a map (section 48(4)(a)) should have been completed in Part A. The local authority should ensure that an appropriate map is included in the 'Proforma Area Map(s)' tab of the proforma at this stage. However, if the zone designated is different to the area considered in Part A, or has been amended following engagement and consultation, a new map should be created to detail the designated zone, providing information in the same manner as detailed in section 2.10.

It should be noted that prior to publishing material in Part C, attention should be given to any sensitivities within the information to be included in published documentation, including maps.