Long Term Development Statement direction
Summary
Ofgem directs an extended timeline for the Long Term Development Statement (LTDS) deliverables, granting a one-year extension to stages 1.3, 2 and 3 of the Form of LTDS and to the Capacity Heatmap publication.
Why it matters
The LTDS and Capacity Heatmap are the publicly-visible artefacts of where GB grid capacity sits and what is being planned. Pushing publication right by a year delays the information that connection applicants, developers and investors rely on. Time has a price; a slipped data publication is a slipped decision date for everyone downstream.
Areas affected
Memo
Long Term Development Statement direction | Ofgem Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience. BETA This site is currently in BETA. Help us improve by giving us your feedback . Close alert: Long Term Development Statement direction Publication type: Decision Publication date: 25 November 2024 Last updated: 28 November 2025 Topic: Electricity distribution Decision for: Formal Consultation on the Form of Long Term Development Statement Show all updates Print this page Share the page Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn The publication of Long Term Development Statements (LTDS), describing the characteristics and development of GB electricity distribution networks, is a long standing obligation on distribution network operators (DNOs), mandated through a direction, pursuant to paragraph 25.2 of the standard conditions of the Electricity Distribution Licence and described in detail in the Form of Long Term Development Statement (FoS). In accordance with paragraph 25.6 of the Licence, the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (the “Authority”) on 10 January 2024 gave notice to the Licensee (“the Notice”) and set out the proposed contents of this Direction. The revised FoS introduces important new requirements for grid model data to be provided using the Common Information Model (CIM) and for the publication of Capacity Heatmap data. These changes build upon the work undertaken by the LTDS Reforms Working Group, and follow an informal consultation on the revised FoS that closed on 10 October 2023 and a formal consultation that closed on 7 February 2024. In the LTDS Direction Letter we set out the key areas of feedback that we received from stakeholders at the formal consultation stage, and where relevant we describe the changes that have been made to the FoS and associated Annexes and Appendices as a result of this feedback. Track changed versions of documents that have been amended as a result of feedback received since the publication of the Notice on 10 January 2024, including the FoS, the direction and the Capacity Heatmap Appendix 1, are also included for completeness. We are publishing the FoS along with all supporting Annexes and Appendices. The files in zip folders are machine readable only and are included for completeness; they are not intended to be readable by visitors to the website. Extensions and new deadlines We have decided to formally approve a 1-year extension request to deliverables within stages 1.3, 2, and 3 set out in Table 7 of the Form of LTDS. The extension also applies to Capacity Heatmap publication. The new deadlines are: stage 1.3: 28 November 2025 stage 2: 29 May 2026 stage 3: 30 November 2026 Capacity Heatmap publication: 29 May 2026 Letters detailing the extension requests have been added to this page. Updated and Latest GB LTDS Technical Artefacts Library Hosting The latest library of GB LTDS technical artefacts, including current versions and version history, is now available on the BSI Engagement Hub . The CIM Engagement Hub has an open membership with the objective of optimising the operation of the CIM Advisory Group and governance of the GB CIM, by encouraging collaboration and industry input into the CIM standards, amplifying opportunities to leverage from existing initiatives, and minimising the risk of duplication of effort between and amongst industry. Stakeholders may use the Engagement Hub as a resource hub for minutes on Advisory Group meetings, confirmed decisions on the GB CIM and key updates on relevant standards. The Engagement Hub is the primary platform to log technical, policy or business queries on existing schema or request the development of new profiles. Main document LTDS CIM Heatmap Extension (Derogation) Letter [PDF, 112.07KB] LTDS CIM Extension (Derogation) Letter [PDF, 662.72KB] LTDS Direction Letter 300424 [PDF, 120.69KB] LTDS Direction 300424 [PDF, 101.36KB] LTDS Direction 300424 Track Changes [PDF, 151.17KB] Form of Long Term Development Statement 300424 [PDF, 535.23KB] Form of Long Term Development Statement 300424 Track Changes [PDF, 626.55KB] Subsidiary documents LTDS Grid Modelling Annex 1 - Grid Modelling Guidelines [PDF, 1.81MB] LTDS Grid Modelling Annex 2 - Data Exchange Specifications [PDF, 5.81MB] Capacity Heatmaps Appendix 1 - Information Model [PDF, 535.27KB] Capacity Heatmaps Appendix 1 - Information Mode Track Changes [PDF, 537.90KB] Capacity Heatmaps Appendix 2 - Open API (zip) [ZIP, 6.36KB] General Appendix 1 - Short Circuit Result Profile Definitions and Diagrams [PDF, 305.56KB] Grid Modelling Appendix 1 - LTDS Information Model and Profiles in UML [ZIP, 42.72MB] Grid Modelling Appendix 2 - LTDS Information Model Extension Definitions and Diagrams [PDF, 647.52KB] Grid Modelling Appendix 3 - LTDS Profiles in RDFS (zip) [ZIP, 211.62KB] Grid Modelling Appendix 4 - LTDS Difference Profile Definitions and Diagrams [PDF, 1.46MB] Grid Modelling Appendix 5 - LTDS Merged Profile Class and Attribute Lists [XLSX, 77.93KB] Grid Modelling Appendix 6 - LTDS Subset of CGMES Constraints in SHACL (zip) [ZIP, 42.69KB] Grid Modelling Appendix 7 - LTDS Subset of CGMES Constraints Descriptions [PDF, 295.85KB] Print this page Share the page Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn All updates 28 November 2025 updated link latest GB LTDS technical artefacts and related governance information are now hosted on the BSI Engagement Hub rather than GitHub Close