Leeds expanding PIPES heat network

Leeds City Council is pressing ahead with the next phase of its low-carbon district heating network as part of the city’s wider ambition to achieve net zero targets and deliver more affordable energy to residents and businesses.

The forthcoming expansion will see the network extended to serve a new apartment block within SOYO Leeds, part of the city’s cultural quarter, and a 300-apartment development at Flax Place.

These connections form part of a broader plan to integrate low-carbon heating into the city’s regeneration and residential growth pipeline.

Developed in partnership with Vital Energi, the Leeds PIPES network currently supplies more than 4,000 homes and 70 buildings, including Leeds Playhouse, Quarry House, St James’ Hospital, and Leeds Town Hall, making it the fastest-growing district heating system in the UK creating 450 jobs whilst securing carbon reductions of approximately 500 tonnes and energy cost savings in excess of £250,000 annually.

Leeds’ heat network is powered from the city’s non-recyclable domestic waste treatment plant.

Heat is generated using energy recovered from the city’s non-recyclable domestic waste treatment facility, providing a stable, lower-carbon alternative to conventional gas systems.

Since its inception, the scheme has expanded, building a network of over 19 kilometres to connect a range of new-build and retrofit developments, including several of the council’s housing estates.

Construction of the latest extension began in July 2025, supporting the next phase of Leeds’ ‘ambitious’ strategy to become the UK’s first net zero and nature-positive city.

To streamline future delivery, the council has approved the renewal of the Leeds District Heating Network Local Development Order 3 (LDO3).

The order, originally introduced to simplify planning for underground pipe routes and associated minor surface works, is due to expire at the end of 2025.

Extending the LDO3 until 2035 allows the council and delivery partners to avoid repeated full planning applications for each new network extension or building connection—reducing administrative time and cost while accelerating project delivery.

The Leeds PIPES network is regarded as a key component of the city’s decarbonisation and energy resilience strategy, combining civil engineering, heat infrastructure, and sustainable planning measures to enable large-scale, low-carbon urban development.

Cllr Mohammed Rafique (left) and Nick Gosling,

Cllr Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “The Leeds PIPES district heating network is a major strategic priority for the city and supports our ambition to become the UK’s first net zero city.

“Homes in the UK are some of the least energy efficient and most reliant on costly fossil fuel gas in Europe, and too many families in our city struggle to pay their energy bills.”

Nick Gosling, Chief Strategy Officer for Vital Energi, added:

“We are excited to continue our work with the Leeds City Council teams, council tenants, local community, businesses and schools, to communicate progress and key developments on the project and promote the job opportunities as part of our key commitments on the project. We look forward to delivering this step change in provision of heating and hot water for the people and businesses of Leeds.”