Heat networks delivery plan

Chapter 8: Impact assessments and Strategic Environmental Assessment

Alongside the Heat in Buildings Strategy (HBS) and during the passage of the Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill (the Bill), a series of impact assessments, including a Strategic Environmental Assessment, were developed and published. Specifically these were:

• equality impact assessment (EQIA) for the HBS and for the Bill
• islands communities impact assessment (ICIA) for the HBS and for the Bill
• fairer Scotland duty (FSD) for the HBS and for the Bill
• child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA)for the HBS
• business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) for the HBS and for the Bill and
• strategic environmental assessment (SEA) – environmental report ^[19].

We will assess whether there is need for additional impact assessments beyond those carried out for the Heat in Buildings Strategy and the Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill as we progress work to implement individual provisions of the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act and the wider policy and delivery framework on heat networks.

As we deliver the HNDP we will take these impact assessments and the associated mitigating actions into account. We will give due regard to equalities, and shall not unfairly discriminate based on any protected characteristics, or particular challenges faced as a result of geography or connectivity (such as on islands).