Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, approved a sub-contract agreement with Space Clipper to support an innovation project focused on improving the visualisation of Local Area Energy Plans and EV charge point plans. The meeting also confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting.

Approval to Sign Space Clipper Sub-Contract

The Cabinet Member agreed to enter into a sub-contract agreement with Space Clipper, a software development company, for a project funded by Innovate UK. This project aims to test and develop 3D visualisation of Geographic Information System (GIS) data for local area energy planning and the Electric Vehicle (EV) charge point programme. The council will provide feedback on Space Clipper's software tool, leveraging its expertise in relevant use cases.

The sub-contract is valued at £9,800 over a 10-month period. Officers highlighted that the decision was made through the Delegated Decisions process due to constitutional rules, despite the relatively small contract value. Councillor Roberts noted the importance of residents in rural communities being able to easily locate facilities like EV charging points, a benefit this project aims to enhance. The project aligns with the council's Corporate Plan, specifically supporting its greener and fairer strategic priorities by improving the communication and understanding of energy systems and EV charge point roll-out. The project is expected to improve stakeholder engagement and participation in the energy transition.

The agreement with Space Clipper will involve the council providing professional feedback on the development of the software tool. The council has the legal power to enter into this sub-contract under the Localism Act 2011, with charges covering costs only, adhering to local authority trading rules. The contract has been reviewed by the council's legal services. Both the Climate Action Service and Innovate Oxfordshire teams will allocate approximately 10 days each over the project's duration to attend meetings and follow up on review actions. The project is also noted to have potential benefits for people in deprived neighbourhoods by helping them understand the energy system better.

The project is funded by Innovate UK, a UK government agency that supports business-led innovation. The software tool developed by Space Clipper aims to address the challenge of stakeholder engagement in Net Zero projects by providing clearer visualisations of proposed developments. This is particularly relevant for projects like EV chargers in historic or conservation areas, where 2D maps often lead to misconceptions and resistance. The project also seeks to reduce the cost and effort involved in developing Local Area Energy Plans (LEAPs) and micro-LEAPs.

The technology involves using generative AI and procedural models to create 3D elements, a 3D geospatial visualisation engine, and novel methods to interpret 2D GIS files to position these elements within a 3D landscape. The ultimate goal is to enable local authorities and other organisations to benefit from improved access to and understanding of sustainability information.

The sub-contract agreement itself details the services to be provided, including identifying and introducing key stakeholders, providing insight for stakeholder mapping, and reviewing visualisations. Space Clipper's obligations include providing visualisation materials and background context. The agreement specifies a start date of 1 September 2025 and an end date of 30 June 2026, with a total price of £4,042.5 exc. VAT for the services provided by Oxfordshire County Council. The agreement also outlines terms regarding intellectual property rights, confidentiality, and dispute resolution.

The project is part of a wider innovation project funded by Innovate UK, with Oxfordshire County Council acting as a sub-contractor. The council's involvement is expected to help accelerate the planning and deployment of Net Zero projects by improving stakeholder engagement and clarity on project impacts. The project's success criteria include demonstrating that user needs are met, the user interface and outputs are effective, and the tool delivers significant value in live trial environments.

The technical team includes individuals from Space Clipper Industries, Oxfordshire County Council, Insight6, and Advanced Infrastructure Technology. The commercial potential is significant, targeting local authorities for LEAPs and EV charger deployment, with follow-on markets including renewable energy planners and energy system operators. The project aims to reduce stakeholder engagement time and costs, increase buy-in for low-carbon projects, and reduce rejection rates in sensitive areas.