What we want to achieve
Warmer, more comfortable homes that are easier to heat – using solutions that work for different homes, households and communities.
How this work began
The East Lammermuir Local Place Plan, adopted in 2024, identified improving the energy efficiency of local homes as one of the community’s four main ambitions. The Local Place Plan also identified decarbonising the heating of homes and support for small-scale community-owned heat networks in its Action Plan.
This ambition also builds on earlier local work, including Insulate Innerwick and the East Lothian Heat Feasibility Study, which explored opportunities for improving home energy efficiency and local heat solutions.
The original priority focused particularly on homes within one kilometre of construction works, haul roads or access routes. It proposed improving homes to at least Energy Performance Certificate band C, where appropriate, and considering suitable renewable-energy measures.
The work that followed developed this into a broader aim: helping East Lammermuir’s residents achieve warm, affordable-to-run homes while moving away from reliance on fossil fuels. Energy Performance Certificates can provide useful supporting evidence, but they are not the only measure of whether a home is comfortable, affordable and working well for the people living in it.
The community workshop
On Thursday 9 October 2025, the Energy Saving Trust held a community workshop at the Innerwick Old School and Outdoor Centre.
The workshop brought together local residents, public-sector representatives, technical specialists and organisations including Home Energy Scotland.
Participants explored:
- which energy-efficiency improvements residents would find acceptable;
- which measures would be suitable for local homes;
- insulation, windows, doors, ventilation and other ways to reduce heat loss;
- individual heating systems, shared systems and a possible larger heat network;
- solar panels, solar thermal systems and battery storage; and
- the planning and heritage restrictions affecting many local properties.
The workshop built on earlier local studies and community-led work, including Insulate Innerwick, and the priorities identified through the Local Place Plan. Its purpose was to help turn the Warm Homes ambition into a practical programme of support and improvements.
At the community workshop
Several clear messages came from the workshop:
- residents want advice from a trusted person who remains involved before, during and after any work;
- each home needs to be properly assessed rather than relying only on its Energy Performance Certificate;
- insulation and reducing heat loss should be considered before changing the heating system;
- windows, doors, loft insulation and draught-proofing are important to residents;
- solutions must take account of older properties, conservation areas and planning restrictions;
- different households will need different heating solutions;
- some residents may want an individual heat pump, while others may prefer to wait for a possible shared or larger heat network;
- there is broad interest in solar energy and battery storage where these are suitable; and
- residents need clear information about costs, savings, disruption, funding and timescales.
The workshop report and action plan
In March 2026, the Energy Saving Trust published the East Lammermuir Energy Efficiency Community Workshop Report and Action Plan.
The report brought together the workshop findings, earlier local research and recommendations for delivering the Warm Homes ambition.
It recommends a whole-home, fabric-first approach. This means first considering how to reduce heat loss before deciding which heating or renewable-energy system would work best.
The recommendations include:
- providing a dedicated Project Manager as a trusted point of contact for residents;
- carrying out detailed whole-home assessments;
- grouping similar types of homes to identify suitable and cost-effective improvement packages;
- allowing solutions to be tailored for unusual or more complex properties;
- beginning with improvements such as draught-proofing, heating controls and loft-insulation top-ups where appropriate;
- working with East Lothian Council at an early stage to address planning and heritage requirements;
- helping residents access Home Energy Scotland, Warmer Homes Scotland and other available support;
- considering individual, shared and larger heat-network options; and
- providing residents with continued support, quality assurance and aftercare.
What is happening now
Lothian Heat, a local Community Interest Company, is leading the Warm Homes project, supported by a dedicated Project Manager.
So far:
- 59 people, including local residents and landlords of homes in East Lammermuir, have registered their interest;
- 134 households across East Lammermuir have a registered contact interested in the project, including 88 homes within the 1km priority area;
- Resident Voice and Landlord Voice Groups have been established and are looking to grow;
- the project launch Residents’ Information Evening was held at Innerwick Old School on 30 June 2026;
- a wide range of organisations are involved, including BeGreen Dunbar, Citizens Advice Bureau Musselburgh, Home Energy Scotland and East Lothian Council;
- a meeting with East Lothian Council’s planning team has taken place to discuss planning and heritage concerns; and
- social housing landlords East Lothian Council, East Lothian Housing Association and Homes for Life are engaged with the project.
The project is exploring how to help each household make informed choices about the options for their home, the right order in which to approach upgrades, and the benefits and risks associated with energy-efficiency and heating improvements.
For heating, this may include shared heat systems, a larger heat network or individual household solutions.
What happens next
The team is developing ways for households to access more in-depth, professional and personalised advice to understand how they could reduce heat loss and move away from reliance on fossil fuels.
A pilot scheme is also being explored where households could receive a professional Home Upgrade Plan. This would consider both the fabric energy-efficiency measures needed and changes to the home’s heating system—looking at the whole home.
These plans would help residents understand their home’s current condition, which improvements may be suitable and the best order in which to carry them out.
If you would like your home to be considered as part of the pilot scheme, you can register your interest in the Warm Homes project.
The project will continue to investigate different heating options while helping residents identify suitable fabric energy-efficiency improvements, such as insulation or draught-proofing, that could be made without waiting for decisions about a possible future heat network.
Read the full Energy Saving Trust workshop report
This page provides a summary to make the information easier to read on phones and tablets.
The complete report includes the detailed workshop findings, recommended delivery approach, action plan and indicative costs:
To learn more about what the Warm Homes project is currently exploring, with a particular focus on heating and what might be possible if communities want to take a collective approach, read the presentation from the Residents’ Information Evening held on 30 June 2026.
Download the East Lammermuir Warm Homes Residents’ Information Evening presentation – June 2026
How can I get involved?
Residents and landlords of homes in East Lammermuir can register their interest, share their experience and help shape what happens next.
Register your interest in the Warm Homes project
To make sure your voice is heard, you can also join the project’s:
Residents are also very welcome to contact Ellen, East Lammermuir’s Warm Homes Project Manager, at ellen.abbi@lothianheat.org to chat about the project and learn more about what might be possible for your home.
Further information and updates will be published on this page as the project develops.
Update: August 2026