The Labour government has announced a consultation on its Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), which includes proposals to ban the sale of older wood-burning stoves that do not meet new standards. The plan aims to reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution, particularly from fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is linked to serious health conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease.
Under the proposals, manufacturers would be prohibited from selling wood burners that fail to meet updated efficiency and emissions criteria. However, stoves already in use would not be banned retrospectively. The government also plans to tighten rules in Smoke Control Areas, which currently limit the types of solid fuel that can be burned in certain parts of England.
The consultation will seek to minimise the impact on those who rely on wood burning for heating and to respect traditional festivals such as Bonfire Night and Diwali. The government has set a target to cut PM2.5 emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. According to official figures, domestic combustion accounted for a fifth of PM2.5 emissions in 2023.
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, whose daughter Ella died from an asthma attack linked to air pollution, welcomed the new PM2.5 goal as a step in the right direction. Calvin May of HETAS, the solid fuel industry body, said the industry is prepared for the changes and urged policymakers to focus on practical, enforceable solutions.
