Commissioned by the North West Net Zero Hub, this NEEDS guidance has been developed to help local authorities identify the key considerations in developing procurement specification for digital planning, with a particular focus on local area energy planning (LAEP).
Experience Level:
Foundation Smart Client
NEEDS - Briefing document
NEEDS - Annex A - Commissioning considerations
NEEDS - Annex B - Data Resolution Accuracy Type
NEEDS - Annex C - Data governance
NEEDS - Annex D - Engagement
NEEDS - Annex E - Ongoing use
NEEDS - Data Mapping Tool - User guide
In a landscape with increasing access to data and shifting policy and legislative context, it is more important than ever that data is better understood and compatible across multiple applications. The Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) function of the National Energy System Operator (NESO) is a key example of the need for local strategy and data to be compatible with wider strategy and data structures. This extends also into network utilities, industry, developers, and investors; all of which will be seeking for certainty and confidence in outputs before acting on them. Everyone must be able to understand LAEPs in order to meet Net Zero goals effectively.
NEEDS aims to be a resource for local authorities reducing the complexity of procurement, and therefore the cost of deployment of digital planning in developing local government strategy.
Collaboration has been central to the creation of NEEDS. One insight gained from stakeholder engagement is aligning ambitions with what is possible within timeframes and budgets. The NEEDS process explores specific priorities behind the desire to commission a project, to maximise the value of the outputs and wider project lifecycle. It does this by capturing the requirements of a specification, to inform local authorities on key items to consider and procure.
NEEDS includes a suite of guidance documents that can help councils with decision-making when they are developing a commission for a local energy plan.
*The NEEDS Data Mapping Tool will be made available to local authorities on Net Zero Go from July 2026. In the meantime, it is available upon request to the North West Net Zero Hub.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © NWNZH. You may use this content (including commercially) under the Open Government Licence v3.0, provided you credit the NWNZH and include the licence link.
Designed to aid Local Authorities in developing robust, evidence-based plans to enable Net Zero.
Already have an account? Login
Guest preview of selected publicly available resourcesFull library of 1,000+ articlesCPD accredited e-learning coursesCase studiesDiscussion forum
