We piloted a blueprint highlighting the "behind the scenes" of an early policy note by Nesta. The policy blueprint visualised the actors, steps and interactions and connected the theory of the policy note to the reality of how it is delivered.

You can read a summary of our initial policy note. This note discusses policy options which we explored as part of this project and had not been widely tested. We also looked for people from across the planning and delivery of low-carbon heat to contribute to this project.

If we can identify a workable delivery model for coordinated switching to low-carbon heat, there will be more scope for delivering this successfully in the UK. By working with those who may be involved in delivering coordinated planning and delivery of low-carbon heat, we hoped to build confidence in the note, while de-risking it and improving the ease with which suggestions could be adopted.

The current approach to transitioning to low-carbon heating is primarily market-led and based on individual choice. Individual homeowners decide whether and when to switch to low-carbon heating in isolation, with businesses developing technologies and services to sell to households. The government provides some incentives and support for low-carbon heating but does not significantly plan or guide the process.

This individual-led approach has problems and risks, which will become more apparent as the transition to low-carbon heating progresses. Nesta drafted a policy note that argues the UK will need to:

1. do more active planning on low-carbon heating
2. make more use of coordinated approaches to low-carbon heating, such as street-by-street switching and shared infrastructure.

This does not mean abandoning a market approach or individual choice for low-carbon heating but providing a stronger planning framework for them to operate in. In particular, we argued that the principle of securing people’s support is crucial in the transition to low-carbon heat.

We worked with government, industry stakeholders and citizens to test this note in two ways. Firstly, by co-creating and mapping the note to learn from those who may already be testing. Secondly, by delivering coordinated approaches to low-carbon heat, highlighting areas where new organisations or capabilities may need to be developed and suggesting the structures and conditions required.

We used a strategy based on service design principles to develop a detailed visual plan that we referred to as a policy blueprint.

Phase 1 – February 2024: laying the groundwork, we drafted a visual blueprint capturing the policy's implementation journey, identifying key actors and their intricate connections. We worked with those who may be already delivering elements of the blueprint, such as those already preparing local energy plans.

Phase 2 – April 2024: co-creation and refinement, we moved from blueprint conception to collaborative enhancement. We convened workshops where stakeholders became active participants. Together, we identified potential roadblocks and areas requiring deeper exploration. By openly addressing critiques and contentious points, we refined the blueprint iteratively.

June 2024: drawing on valuable insights from stakeholders, we refined the policy note and drafted  a robust second version of the blueprint and a covering report. This work highlighted key recommendations for improvement, ensuring the approach is comprehensive and effective. This collaborative process, centred on feedback and iteration, aimed to deliver a broadly supported policy.