Heating London’s homes through heat networks
Heat networks use insulated underground pipes to distribute heat from centralised sources to a variety of different customers, including public buildings, shops, offices, hospitals, universities, and homes.”1
Currently, over 477,000 households – representing more than 1.1 million people in the UK - are connected to a heat network.2
The government aims to increase the proportion of heat demand met by heat networks from the current level of 3% to 20% by 2050, through new heat network zones, where certain types of buildings and low carbon heat sources can be required to connect to a network within a prescribed timeframe.3
The Mayor’s pathway for achieving net zero in London by 2030 is based on 460,000 heat network connections.4
The London Assembly Environment Committee will meet tomorrow to begin its investigation into heat networks in London, whether London is on track to meet the Mayor’s targets, and what the potential impact of new government policies around heat networks will be on Londoners.
The Committee will also speak with Thames Water about its plans for a new reservoir in Oxfordshire which would provide water to London and the South East.
The guests are:
Section 1: South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) - 10.00-10.40:
- Nevil Muncaster, Strategic Water Resources Director, Thames Water
- Rob Smith, Project Development Manager for SESRO, Thames Water
Section 2: Heat Networks for London - 10.45-12.55:
- Stephen Knight, CEO, Heat Trust
- Caroline Bragg, CEO, Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE)
- Gareth Jones, Managing Director, Fairheat
- Birger Lauersen, Policy Committee member, Euroheat and Power
The meeting will take place on Tuesday 4 November 2025 from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
Follow us @LondonAssembly.
Notes to editors
- UK government Heat network zoning: overview
- DESNZ/Ofgem Heat networks regulation: government response August 2025
- UK government Heat network zoning: overview
- Element energy Analysis of a net zero 2030 target for Greater London p67
- Leonie Cooper AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Environment Committee.
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251727 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.