The Ready for RESP programme has helped local authorities and Net Zero Hubs prepare for Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESPs).
It was funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), led by the North West Net Zero Hub on behalf of all Local Net Zero Hubs in England, and delivered by Energy Systems Catapult.
We helped local authorities understand their role in RESP and prepare for the opportunities it creates to influence future network investment in their regions and align it with their plans for growth, housing and decarbonisation.
We also used this opportunity to build a clearer picture of how local energy planning is evolving across England.
Key Stats:
Ready for RESP was delivered at a time of significant change. NESO was still shaping its approach to Transitional RESP (tRESP) and RESP. The challenge was helping local authorities deal with an evolving system, full of unknowns.
At the same time, councils were navigating competing priorities. Local government reorganisation, spatial planning changes and emerging responsibilities such as heat network zoning put pressure on already stretched teams. As a non-statutory activity, energy planning often struggled to compete for time and resources with councils’ core activities.
While the programme highlighted local area energy planning is seen as a key input to RESP, the landscape was fragmented. Many authorities had developed or were exploring Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) but there was wide variation in scope, quality, and data. Commissioning remained complex, with constraints often driven more by budget than ambition.
Uncertainty over the future of NESO’s “local actor support” for RESP added to the challenge. Local authorities lacked clarity on expectations, data requirements, and the level of support they could rely on.
The programme focused on practical support, capability building, and shared learning.
We developed a suite of accessible guidance including an e-learning course to help local authorities understand tRESP, RESP and their role in local energy planning.
A programme of webinars, workshops, and briefings built knowledge across key sectors including networks, transport and heat.
Targeted training in local energy planning and change management strengthened capability and awareness within Net Zero Hubs, supporting their role as a bridge between national and regional policy and local delivery.
Engagement was central throughout. This included an innovative workshop delivered by Heuristic Games that challenged participants to ‘play out’ how to decarbonise the UK. Workshops and discussions helped Hub teams to identify and share challenges, and see how local insights can support the wider stakeholder network.
The programme also assessed the state of local energy planning across England. We conducted surveys, workshops and interviews to identify key issues around data, consistency and capacity.
This highlighted the need for more standardised approaches, supporting better value for money, clearer specifications and the ability for councils to retain and build on evidence over time.
By April 2026, our engagement and resources have strengthened awareness and understanding of RESP across local authorities and regional partners, while improving their ability to engage with emerging processes.
An e-learning course designed for local authority users, hosted on Net Zero Go, has helped officers understand their role and the tools and approaches they can use to prepare for RESP.
Ready for RESP also played an important role in supporting and informing NESO’s developing approach for RESP. Evidence from local authorities, Net Zero Hubs and stakeholders, has helped raise key challenges around engagement, data and capacity.
James Johnson, Head of Regional Programme at the North West Net Zero Hub, said:
“It’s been great working with Energy Systems Catapult on the Ready for RESP programme. As the developers of the original guidance for Local Area Energy Planning and thought leaders in this space, the team were well placed to support Local Net Zero Hubs in thinking about how local energy planning can be best aligned with the new Regional Energy System Plans.
“We’ve considered how local energy planning can sit in the context of the statutory responsibilities that are being evolved through the devolution agenda.
“The Catapult has created a set of guidance and training materials that will be of great value for local government and the wider sector as we try to ensure that councils across England can become proactive participants in the rapid electrification and decarbonisation of the energy system.”
II Ready for RESP has reinforced that uncertainty remains. There is still limited clarity on:
Insights from the final programme briefings highlighted several priority areas for the next phase:
With RESP set for launch in 2028, there is now an opportunity to build on these insights refining how regional and local energy planning will work together to ensure RESP delivers value for places.
Further insights, reflections, and practical learning are available through the programme’s blogs and published resources below.
As the Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) initiative develops all guides will be made available to download here. Keep checking back for the latest updates.
The first in a series of guides as part of the ready for RESP programme is a short guide on the Transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plans and what local councils need to do.
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
The second guide in the Ready for RESP series is a practical introduction to Local Decarbonisation Planning — what it is, the approaches available, and how councils can choose the right pathway to support investment, delivery and effective engagement with RESP.
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
The third guide in the Ready for RESP series is a practical guide to resourcing Local Decarbonisation Planning – the people, skills, partnerships and tools councils need to balance statutory duties with funding and capacity realities, and to effectively influence energy network investment through RESP.
To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.
We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.
If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.
Local communities matter now more than ever in the energy transition
Energy planning is no longer the top-down responsibility of energy networks and local communities have an increasingly vital role to play in shaping our Net Zero future. Lynne McDonald, Head of Local Net Zero, at UK Power Networks Distribution System Operator (DSO) says the future is local and DSOs are developing the digital tools to make a difference.
Helping places benefit from RESP
Currently our energy systems – electricity and gas – are planned separately. There is limited integration between energy planning and spatial planning – such as new housing, commercial and industrial centres. This fragmented approach limits our ability to target investment effectively and slows down progress toward a Net Zero future.
RESP policy framework consultation response
Energy Systems Catapult welcomes the opportunity to respond to Ofgem’s consultation on the RESP policy framework. We support the four guiding principles of being place-based, whole systems, vision-led, and proactive.
Are you ready for RESP?
Network capacity can make or break Net Zero energy projects. With capacity, projects which may result in new demand or generation can go ahead, while without network capacity developments central to realising local economic or Net Zero priorities could be blocked. The frustration this causes, and rising Net Zero commitments, have strengthened the desire of local areas to influence network infrastructure investment with their priorities.
The essential role of Local Area Energy Plans
For aficionados of planning-based acronyms in the energy sector, these are halcyon days. Hot on the heels of the CSNP and HND came the SSEP (recommended by the ENC). Then Ofgem (which is, I guess, a kind of quasi-acronym) mandated NESO to deliver RESPs. “But” I hear the masses cry out. “What about LAEPs? How do they fit in?” Good question. I’ll explain.
Why RESPs matter
The way we plan our energy networks is about to get a major upgrade. Enter Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) – the next big thing in shaping how our communities power their futures. Done right, these plans could boost local economies, create jobs, and accelerate the UK’s journey to Net Zero. But, like any ambitious project, there are challenges. So, what exactly is RESP, and why should you care? Let me try and break it down.
Why local energy planning matters more now than ever
Andrew Wainwright, from SSEN Distribution, sheds light on why local insights are essential and how initiatives such as Local Area Energy Planning (LAEPs) and the Local Energy Net Zero Accelerator (LENZA) are helping to make a difference.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) for Great Britain is committed to ensuring the views of stakeholders are at the heart of its work to plan the future energy system. So, if you have a keen interest in the energy system in your local area, with a particular focus on the new RESP role, join the online RESP Forums.
This decision sets out the policy framework for the RESP. It follows on from Ofgem’s review of local governance and institutional arrangements, commencing with a call for input in April 2022, a consultation in March 2023, a decision to establish RESPs in November 2023, and a consultation on the proposed policy framework in July 2024.
In early-2025, NESO became responsible for producing Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) for England, Scotland and Wales. The plans will help ensure that local areas get the energy infrastructure they need to meet local net zero and growth ambitions. The RESPs will form part of NESO’s wider strategic energy planning activities, ensuring a joined-up approach between national, regional and local levels.
Community energy tools
Local Net Zero: central support for local authorities and communities. Government provides a range of support to help local areas decarbonise.
North East and Yorkshire Local Net Zero Hub
The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub – a collaboration of six combined authorities accelerating the transition to Net Zero and a future of clean growth through local energy delivery.
North West Local Net Zero Hub
The Net Zero Hub supports local government and social landlords to scale up housing retrofit activities. The Hub convenes organisations in the North West to share best practice, consider innovation in approaches and improve procurement of contractors.
Midlands Local Net Zero Hub
The Midlands Net Zero Hub works with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), local authorities, and community organisations to improve capacity and capability on the journey to reaching Net Zero.
South West Local Net Zero Hub
The South West Local Net Zero Hub provides free strategic and technical support to the public sector and communities to develop, finance and deliver Net Zero energy projects.
South East Local Net Zero Hub
The South East Local Net Zero Hub works with public sector organisations and their stakeholders to support the development and financing of local Net Zero projects.
We’re keen to hear from councils, regional partners and networks who are working on or interested in RESP. If you’d like to:
Please contact Dr Anna Stegman.
We empower and advise local authorities, network operators, and central and devolved governments to take Net Zero action
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Find out more about how Energy Systems Catapult can help you and your teams