Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) are an emerging mechanism for coordinating place‑based energy transitions, yet little is known about how these plans are produced, interpreted, and translated across the diverse actors involved in their development. This research examines the socio‑technical processes through which LAEPs take shape, focusing on how documents, practices, and organisational relationships influence their evolution.

The study adopts a qualitative approach informed by actor‑network theory, combining documentary analysis, semi‑structured interviews and case studies. Documentary analysis is used as a form of translation tracing, following how planning artefacts move between organisations and how meaning is negotiated. Thematic analysis provides a flexible framework for identifying patterns across both documentary and interview data. Case studies are used to investigate the longitudinal effect of LAEP in specific technological cases.

Preliminary findings indicate that LAEPs have had relatively low influence, with the majority of local authorities in Wales accepting them, but agreeing that it is to be used by regional or national levels of authority. Early themes highlight tensions between strategic ambition and operational constraints, the stabilising role of technical modelling outputs, and the ways in which organisational priorities shape what becomes “actionable” within the plan.

By illuminating the contingent and negotiated nature of LAEP development, the research contributes to wider debates on socio‑technical transitions and the governance of local energy systems. The final thesis will offer methodological insights into translation‑focused document analysis and practical implications for improving the robustness and legitimacy of LAEP processes.