Energy Systems Catapult has been appointed by the Local Net Zero Hubs across England, to deliver the “Ready for RESP 2025” programme – a landmark initiative designed to prepare English regions for the Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) due in 2025, and to lay the groundwork for robust, locally-driven Net Zero Plans by 2028.

The North West Net Zero Hub, funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and hosted by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA), will be coordinating the national  programme for 25/26, to help ensure all English regions, regardless of where they are starting, have the tools, data, and expertise needed to shape future energy investment and decarbonisation strategies.

The Catapult will lead delivery of the contract, providing strategic guidance, stakeholder engagement, and extensive capacity-building activities across all five English Net Zero Hub regions.

“This is an incredibly exciting and impactful project,” said James Johnson, Programme Director at the North West Net Zero Hub. “It’s about equipping local authorities across England with the support they need to take real leadership on climate action. By building the foundations for consistent, high-quality local Net Zero planning, we’re enabling regions to shape how and where energy investment happens — driving change from the ground up.”

Key deliverables include:

• Authoring guidance on local Net Zero plans, aligned with RESP requirements and national standards.
• Developing a ‘Local Government Resourcing Plan’ to clarify the roles, skills, and investment needed in-house or via partners.
• Delivering a national training programme for over 100 local government professionals and stakeholders.
• Rolling out a readiness self-assessment tool to help councils benchmark their preparedness for planning and delivery.

The work will ensure regions are ready to feed into the 2025 transitional RESP process as well as supporting long-term strategic planning up to 2028 and input into the enduring RESP process.

It will also align with parallel national initiatives such as the ‘Heat Network Zoning’ framework and the emerging National Energy and Environmental Data Specification (NEEDs).

“This project comes at a crucial – and potentially transformational – time for energy planning. We believe Ready for RESP will help unlock the potential for local areas to shape the future of the energy system, as active participants in its design, not just customers of the process.” said Andrew Clark, Business Leader Place at Energy Systems Catapult. “We’re proud to support the Hubs in this critical national effort to build capacity, close knowledge gaps, and ensure every place has a strong voice in the future of the UK’s energy system.”

The contract runs from April to December 2025, with outputs delivered progressively, and final materials made available in early 2026 to support widespread adoption and impact.