Leicestershire County Council has launched its Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) and a digital tool called LAEP Lens – designed to help communities across the county take control of their energy. It has been launched alongside local partners as part of the GreenerFuture Leicestershire project.
The LAEP Lens is available free for anyone to use and provides a detailed interactive map covering Leicester and Leicestershire, enabling communities and organisations to identify energy solutions tailored to their local area such as retrofitting homes with modern heating systems, improving insulation, expanding access to electric vehicle charging and advising on the suitability of solar panels. The map uses data such as energy demand in that area, EPC ratings, building/ structural suitability and potential for solar panels.
The launch of our Local Area Energy Plan helps us to improve energy efficiency and support communities and businesses helping to make homes, buildings and businesses warmer, healthier, and more affordable to run.
LAEP Lens gives us the tools to make informed, coordinated decisions, working with key infrastructure partners such as National Grid, that will benefit our communities, local economy, and the environment
By working together with local communities, industry and groups, we can build and support a range of community-led energy projects and shared solutions that benefit everyone.
Person:Councillor Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for environment
LAEP Lens addresses key energy challenges and sets out opportunities for partners across all sectors to safeguard future energy supply and improve sustainability across Leicestershire.
The Leicester and Leicestershire LAEP has been funded by Innovate UK to focus on testing new energy innovations, sharing best practice with other local authorities and highlighting investment opportunities.
The Local Area Energy Plan can be accessed on the GreenerFuture Leicestershire website.
Leicestershire County Council has been named ‘Supportive Local Authority of the Year’ at the 2025 Community Energy England Awards, in recognition of its leadership in championing community energy initiatives. This work includes the development of LAEP Lens to benefit communities by helping them to deliver local energy advice to residents, while also supporting projects that explore rooftop solar opportunities on schools, redevelopment sites, and places of worship.