Leeds City Council is preparing to advance the next stage of its low-carbon district heating network, with new connections planned for developments in the city’s cultural quarter and at Flax Place. The expansion will supply heat to a new apartment block in SOYO Leeds and a 300-unit residential scheme, reinforcing the network’s role in supporting regeneration and housing growth.
The council’s executive board will examine updated performance and development plans for the scheme at a meeting on 19 November. The network, delivered with Vital Energi, currently reaches more than 4,000 homes and 70 buildings, including major public and cultural facilities. Heat is sourced from the city’s non-recyclable waste treatment facility, offering a lower-carbon option for large buildings and multi-residential sites.
Construction on the latest extension began in July 2025. The project aligns with Leeds’ long-term decarbonisation strategy, which aims to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel heating across new and existing stock.
Councillors are also expected to review the renewal of the Leeds District Heating Network Local Development Order 3. This order, due to expire at the end of 2025, simplifies planning for underground infrastructure and associated surface works. Extending it to 2035 would remove the need for repeated full planning applications for each additional connection, lowering administrative costs and supporting quicker delivery of network extensions.
The district heating scheme remains a core element of Leeds’ approach to reducing emissions, strengthening energy resilience, and enabling large-scale low-carbon development across the city.
