Support Package for Boroughs

Direct support services will be made available to London boroughs according to their requirements, their level of commitment and their readiness in terms of policy or project development.
At organisational level, the LDA will provide services including:
  • Support to integrate local data and evidence with the London Heat Map;
  • Support to integrate DE evidence base and policies within key borough strategies and planning documents; and
  • In-house training to develop officer and workshops for key officers and politicians to develop the understanding of decision-makers.

At DE project level, match funding will be made available to the selected boroughs to support the procurement of technical consultancy expertise for specific projects. In tandem with the support at organisational level this will allow borough officers and decision-makers to develop specific DE opportunities into deliverable projects.

Part of this funding in the first phase of the programme will be to carry out heat mapping to identify DE opportunities. The key technical elements that could be supported for a specific local DE opportunity include an options appraisal, high level business and financial issues, and guidance on procurement strategies and delivery partnerships. Guidance and advice will be provided in the third phase for boroughs with a specific project identified as technically viable and with the potential to secure finance. The LDA will provide expertise to the borough and work alongside their consultants and financial advisors to facilitate a market offer for the DE project.

The heat maps produced will contain detailed information on the heat demands of major energy consumers, energy supply plants, potential for low carbon energy supply, community heating networks and potential routes for new networks in a particular area. This information will be fed into the London Heat Map and turned into accurate and up-to-date spatial intelligence, which stakeholders with an interest in developing DE opportunities in the area can use.

A second phase of support services to local authorities will be available from March 2010 to March 2011, with a further phase of support is also being considered, from 2011-13.