Households across the UK with wood burners could be hit with fines of up to £5,000 for breaching proposed regulations currently under consideration by the government. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is pushing for tighter controls on solid-fuel heating, with the government having recently launched a consultation on its Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).
Proposed measures for wood burners
The policies are designed to cut pollution levels and include changes to the rules surrounding wood burners. Under the proposed measures, manufacturers of wood burners would be barred from selling older models unless they meet new standards, though existing burners already in use would not be prohibited retrospectively.
The proposals also indicate that Smoke Control Areas could become subject to even tougher restrictions. This comes as local authorities have announced intentions to expand these zones, meaning more households will be prohibited from emitting smoke from their chimneys and from purchasing or selling unauthorised fuel for use within a smoke control area.
Council expansions and consultation
Norwich and Brighton & Hove are amongst the council areas that have disclosed plans to roll out such expansions, reports the Express. Following the publication of the updated EIP, the government is preparing to launch a consultation on steps to reduce the environmental impact of the public burning of wood, including stoves and bonfires.
However, it has been confirmed that the consultation will aim to "minimise the impact" of these changes on those who rely on wood burning, while introducing provisions that will enable people to continue honouring traditional celebrations such as Bonfire Night and Diwali.
Pollution targets and fines
The Government has outlined its ambition to cut PM2.5 emissions — a small particulate pollutant linked to asthma, lung disease and heart conditions. The target is to achieve a 30% reduction by 2030, compared with 2018 levels. This comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers PM2.5 to be the most harmful pollutant to human health. Official figures showed that one fifth of PM2.5 emissions in 2023 came from domestic combustion.
There are currently no outright bans on wood burners across the UK, though penalties can be imposed for improper use. In smoke-control areas, households can only burn unauthorised fuels, such as wood, on appliances that are rigorously tested to demonstrate low-smoke emissions. Burning unauthorised fuel in an appliance not included on the DEFRA-exempt list could lead to a £1,000 fine. Furthermore, fines could rise to as much as £5,000 for repeat offenders should cases progress to court.
However, it was reported in 2023 that there had been just one prosecution and three fines handed out to people using banned wood-burning stoves in England despite more than 10,000 complaints about wood being burned in populated areas since January 2022. British households are being urged to consider cleaner, low-carbon alternatives to wood burners, such as electric heating and heat pumps. The WHO states that air pollution is responsible for 6.7 million premature deaths each year, with evidence linking exposure to a range of serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and asthma.
