Environmental health group condemns government’s plan to allow domestic wood-burning stoves

The decision was confirmed in a letter from the government to the Stove Industry Association, as reported in The Guardian, stating that the government does not intend to ban wood-burning stoves in new homes under the Future Homes Standard.

It read: “A full technical consultation on the Future Homes Standard was launched in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. Under the standards proposed in the consultation, a wood-burning stove would be permitted as a secondary heating source in new homes.”

The CIEH said this decision would be “a backward step in the fight to improve air quality and protect public health”.

The aim of the Future Homes Standard is to mandate that new homes in England are designed for low-carbon heating and high energy efficiency, so they are carbon neutral once the grid is decarbonised. Permitting domestic wood-burning stoves goes against this aim.

Social landlords have previously called for greater certainty around the green standards for new build homes.

Louis Warden, head of technical at Greencore Homes, also asked whether future generations will look back and wonder why more was not done at this critical moment to curb emissions.

This government’s recent decision would go against the Climate Change Committee’s recommendations that wood-burning stoves in homes should be phased out because of the carbon they emit.

They also produce particles that cause health problems including heart and lung disease, diabetes, cancer, brain function and premature births, according to a growing body of research.

Mark Elliott, president of the CIEH, said: “While CIEH understands that in some settings there is little or no choice for domestic wood burning, we have been clear that where there is a choice and alternatives available, these must be sought as the harmful effects of domestic wood burning cannot be ignored.”

He added: “We would call on the government to reconsider its position on this matter before it’s too late.

“We will continue to advocate for homes being heated in the cleanest way possible to reduce the pollutants people and communities create, the health impacts they cause and the strain this generates on our health services.”

Even “eco-design” wood-burning stoves produce 450 times more toxic air pollution than gas central heating, a study by Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, has found.