Fireplace law change with UK log burner and wood burner bans on table | UK | News
New laws could ban some wood stoves and impose stricter rules on solid fuel heating to tackle the ongoing but little-publicised problem of indoor pollution in people’s homes.
Labor has announced it is consulting on its Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), which includes a range of policies to reduce waste and reduce pollution levels.
Under the proposals in the plan, woodburner manufacturers would be banned from selling older models unless they meet the new standards, but burners already in use would not be retroactively deemed illegal. Smoke Control Areas, which in certain parts of England place limits on the types of solid fuels that can be burned in wood burners, fireplaces and chimneys, could also be made tighter under the proposals.
After announcing the revised EIP in December, the government said it would consult on measures to reduce the environmental impact of wood burned by the public, such as in stoves and bonfires.
Ministers said the consultation would aim to ‘minimise the impact’ of these changes on those who need to burn wood and respect traditional festivals such as Bonfire Night and Diwali. The government has tightened its target to reduce emissions of PM2.5, a fine particulate pollutant linked to asthma, lung disease and heart disease, by 30% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels.
According to official figures, one fifth of PM2.5 emissions in 2023 resulted from domestic combustion.
EIP says: “The burning of solid fuels is a major contributor to national emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and is a significant source of air pollution, especially in urban areas. The World Health Organization recognizes PM2.5 as the pollutant most harmful to human health (air pollution is responsible for 6.7 million premature deaths each year, World Health Organization (WHO) 2025).
“These particles can enter the bloodstream and internal organs, and there is growing evidence to suggest that exposure is linked to a range of debilitating health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and asthma. We will consult on further measures to reduce emissions from domestic combustion… Consult on new measures that reduce emissions from domestic combustion while minimizing the impact on what needs to be burned 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 into line with the EU, whereas the situation was different in the previous EIP published by the Conservatives in 2023.
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, whose nine-year-old daughter Ella died of an asthma attack linked to air pollution in 2013, welcomed the new PM2.5 target as a “win”.
Ms Kissi-Debrah is campaigning for “Ella’s Law”, which would require the Government to achieve clean air across the UK by January 1, 2030, setting out a pathway to bring the country into line with World Health Organization air pollution guidelines.
“This isn’t quite Ella’s Law yet, but it’s a step in the right direction,” he told the Press Association.
“So I’m happy. I’ll always support anything that improves the climate and means fewer children will be hospitalized and fewer children will die.”
Calvin May, head of technical services at HETAS, which represents the solid fuels sector, said: “Wood burners, multi-fuel stoves and pellet stoves that meet Clean Choice standards already meet potential EIP targets, showing that the industry is well prepared for this change and is committed to improving our air quality.
“Labour’s consultation on tightening PM2.5 targets and how to effectively reduce emissions from domestic combustion is a necessary and welcome step.
“We call on policymakers to focus on practical, implementable solutions aligned with industry professionals. This will accelerate the transition to less polluting technologies and also support stove owners to make informed choices about how they burn, what they burn and when they burn it. Cleaner air is achievable and the solid fuels industry has long been committed to doing its part.”
