No wood burner ban for new homes after industry argues it would “harm economy”—despite medical warnings on pollution

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UK ministers have decided not to proceed with a ban on wood burners in new homes following industry warnings about potential economic harm and increased fuel poverty. Despite health warnings from medical experts regarding pollution from these stoves, the government has continued to allow their use, citing their benefits in achieving carbon emission reduction goals.

UK ministers abandoned legislation designed to ban wood burners from new homes after warnings from the industry that it would harm the economy, lead to redundancies, and worsen fuel poverty, The BMJ can reveal. The Scottish government dropped proposals after pressure and meetings with the Stove Industry Association (SIA), which claimed that using a stove to heat your home was a “basic human right.”Freedom of information requests sent to key Whitehall departments also show that ministers in England have avoided a similar ban after the SIA argued that modern stoves offered “significant benefits” that aligned with government goals to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. This is despite concerns raised by medical royal colleges and the chief medical officer for England, Chris Whitty, that stoves are a major source of air pollution, particularly in cities.Campaigners have told The BMJ that the government is “giving in to polluting business” and...