New regulations could result in a ban of log burners (Image: Getty)
New calls to ban log burners in homes – how it could affect you
- A new report suggests that banning solid fuels like wood could save 1,500 lives and £54million in NHS costs annually. Experts link domestic burning to heart disease, lung cancer, and asthma, prompting calls for the Government to phase out “non-essential” wood burning to reduce the significant burden on public health.
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Under the Government’s revised Environmental Improvement Plan, new rules aim to cut fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 30% by 2030. While existing stoves won’t be banned immediately, manufacturers may be forced to modify or discontinue older, highly polluting models to comply with toughened air quality targets aligned with EU standards.
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Households in Smoke Control Areas face a £300 fine if their chimneys emit too much smoke. Recent law changes lowered the legal emission limit from 5g to 3g per hour. Additionally, using “wet wood” or unauthorised fuels can result in even larger penalties of up to £1,000 for non-compliance.
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Some local authorities are taking aggressive steps, with Green councillors in cities like Norwich proposing to expand smoke-controlled zones city-wide. These local plots to effectively ban indoor wood burning have sparked fury among residents who argue that having a fire is a “basic human right” and a necessity during the energy crisis.
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Despite the presence of “Defra-approved” models, experts warn of a key loophole where even modern stoves emit 300 times more pollution than gas boilers. Because current restrictions only cover specific zones, officials are looking to tighten enforcement to ensure these “invisible” but dangerous particles are better controlled across the whole UK.