Proposals that could introduce tighter rules on solid fuel heating and a ban on some older types of log burners and wood burners have been handed to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with industry figures calling for more support for households.
Consultation on Environmental Improvement Plan
Labour has announced a consultation on its Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), which includes policies to reduce waste and cut pollution levels. Under the proposals, manufacturers of wood burners would be banned from selling older models unless they meet new standards, though burners already in use would not be retrospectively outlawed.
Smoke Control Areas, which set limits on the types of solid fuel that can be burned in log burners, fireplaces and chimneys in certain areas of England, could also be made stricter under the proposals.
Industry urges targeted support
Following the start of the new PM's tenure, industry figures at the Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS), representing solid fuel burning manufacturers, are urging Mr Burnham to focus on targeted support to help people ditch their old burners, rather than tightening rules on new products.
Barry Cope, CEO of HETAS, said: "A wood burner isn't a fashion accessory you swap out each season – they stay in homes for 15 years or more. Tighter limits on new stoves are welcome, but it will be over a decade before they filter through to most households. If government wants cleaner air sooner, it needs a serious plan for the open fires and outdated stoves in homes right now – including support to upgrade the oldest appliances, guidance on burning better, and education on the importance of chimney sweeping. Without a plan, these proposals are only part of the answer."
He added: "Wood burners aren't phones – people don't get a new one every year. Tightening the rules for new appliances will move the needle, but very slowly. Government's own figures show the gap between old and new appliances is large, and until there is a proper plan for the older ones, the solid fuel burning proposals are only a partial fix."
Mr Cope also urged government to address labelling for new devices, including advice on how to burn more safely. He said: "A good label should explain the choices people can make and mention the simple fuel and maintenance habits that make all the difference. The messaging is simple. For fuel, burn dry, Ready to Burn wood. For log burners, keep the appliance serviced and the chimney swept. Pair the warning with the fix, and you can make a meaningful difference to what comes out of the chimney."
Government targets and health concerns
The Government has said it will consult on measures to reduce the environmental impact of the public burning wood, such as stoves and bonfires, after unveiling the revised EIP last December. Ministers said the consultation will aim to 'minimise the impact' of these changes on those who need to burn wood and to respect traditional festivals such as Bonfire Night and Diwali.
The Government has tightened the target to cut emissions of PM2.5 – a fine particulate pollutant linked to asthma, lung disease and heart conditions – by 30% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. According to official figures, a fifth of PM2.5 emissions in 2023 came from domestic combustion.
The EIP states: "The burning of solid fuels is a large contributor to national emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and is a major source of air pollution, especially in urban areas. The World Health Organisation considers PM2.5 the most harmful pollutant to human health (air pollution is responsible for 6.7 million premature deaths every year.
"These particles can enter the bloodstream and internal organs, and there is a growing body of evidence linking exposure with a range of debilitating health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and asthma. We will consult on further measures to reduce emissions from domestic burning [and] consult on new measures that cut emissions from domestic combustion, whilst minimising the impact on those that need to burn and respecting traditional celebratory festivals such as Bonfire Night and Diwali."
It is understood that the EIP will bring the UK's PM2.5 standards in line with the EU, which was not the case under the previous EIP, published by the Conservatives in 2023.
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, whose nine-year-old daughter Ella died from an asthma attack linked to air pollution in 2013, has welcomed the new PM2.5 goal as a "win". Ms Kissi-Debrah has been campaigning for "Ella's Law", which would require the Government to achieve clean air throughout England by January 1, 2030, setting out a pathway to bring the country in line with World Health Organisation air pollution guidelines.
"It's not quite Ella's Law yet, but it's a step in the right direction," she told the Press Association. "So because of that, I'm pleased. Anything that's going to improve the air, and that means less children are going to be hospitalised and less children are going to die, I am always going to be for it."
