The Act Overview Variation of heat network zone Section 51: Variation of heat network zone by Scottish Ministers
118.Subsection (1) provides that the Scottish Ministers may vary a heat network zone following a request by a local authority or on the Scottish Ministers’ own initiative, whether or not the heat network zone was designated by a local authority or the Scottish Ministers (subsection (2)).
119.In deciding whether to vary a heat network zone, the Scottish Ministers must have regard to the matters referred to in section 48(1) and consult with each local authority in whose area the proposed zone would be situated as well as such other persons as they consider appropriate (subsections (3) and (4)). The Scottish Ministers may decide to vary the heat network zone, or decide not to (subsection (5)). If they decide to vary the zone, they must identify the area as varied in a document with reference to a map, specify in the document the day on which the variation comes into effect and publish the document in a manner they consider appropriate (subsection (6)).