6th May 2025
The letter signed by the Chair of UKHACC, Richard Smith and Trustee, Professor Jill Belch expresses concern at the decision by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to allow wood burning stoves to be permitted in new homes as a secondary heating source in the Future Homes and Buildings Standards.
They highlight the significant harms that wood burning pollution poses for human health and say that wood burners are not a cost-effective, healthy or sustainable alternative to other forms of heating, notably heat pumps, and should not play a critical role in the heat security of our future homes.
The 2024 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change UK policy brief called on the UK governments to “develop a framework to implement a just transition away from wood burning to clean fuels in urban and rural areas”. However, we understand the concerns of the rural population and of those where grid supply is uncertain, thus a ban on wood burners with exemptions for rural areas would protect public health and reduce the inner-city health inequalities we see with air pollution related diseases.
The Climate Change Committee has also recommended the phasing out of wood-burning stoves in homes because of the carbon they emit, and concern regarding the dangerous PM2.5 particles responsible for health problems including heart and lung disease, as well as diabetes, cancer, brain function and premature births. They have stated clearly that wood burning stoves should be phased out and replaced with other forms of heating that are more efficient and cleaner, with lower emissions.
In light of the evidence, we call on the Minister to reconsider the decision to welcome the installation of new wood burning stoves in the Future Homes Standards.