A consultation has been launched on plans which support the roll-out of district and communal heating services across Scotland to help alleviate fuel poverty.
The Scottish Government wants views on proposed regulations which simplify how district and communal heating systems are installed in the common parts of tenements.
The regulations make installation of heating infrastructure easier for the owner of a flat by creating a procedure which allows for any neighbours who wish to object an opportunity to outline their objections.
In many cases this work is carried out as part of work to alleviate fuel poverty and install more efficient heating systems. This can be beneficial for both the environment and bill-payers.
The proposed regulations are aimed at property owners installing district and communal heating services in their properties and some of the infrastructure (e.g. pipes) needs to run through the communal areas.
The consultation, which runs for 12 weeks, also asks for views on the installation of gas pipes in common parts of tenements. The consultation closes at 5.00pm on 14 April 2016.
The consultation can be completed online: https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/family-and-property-law/tenements-scotland-act-2004-regulations
Meanwhile, a new £14 million fund will allow councils across Scotland to make homes, public buildings and businesses more energy efficient.
The fund will help local authorities to pilot new and innovative approaches to energy efficiency with community groups and businesses, which can then be taken forward when Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) is rolled out fully from 2018.
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