The Environment Improvement Plan was introduced in January 2023 and is the first review of the 25 Year Environment Plan published in 2019, according to HETAS, the solid fuel safety body. The plan contains ten goals covering clean air and water, climate change and biosecurity, and sets out measures intended to better manage domestic burning, particularly in areas with high emissions such as denser urban areas1.
On stoves, the plan proposes tightening the limits that new appliances in Smoke Control Areas must meet, reducing the permitted emission rate from 5g of smoke per hour to a maximum of 3g. HETAS states this proposed requirement applies to appliances being certified as exempt and not to appliances already installed1. The plan also sets out extending solid fuels legislation, including to fuels burned outside, which HETAS says would provide consistency in the market and improve compliance and air quality, and would not introduce new requirements for traditional barbecue fuels such as charcoal1. A further measure is to design and implement steps to shift away from older, more polluting appliances towards newer ones meeting current emission standards1.
The plan states that the government is not considering a ban on domestic burning in England, and recognises that some households rely on solid fuel for heating, hot water and cooking. A ban on domestic outdoor burning would be considered disproportionate1.
"The Environment Improvement Plan clearly states that the government is not considering a ban on domestic burning in England and it recognises that some households are reliant on solid fuel burning for heating, hot water and cooking."
The plan builds on earlier rules. The sale of wet wood was banned in May 2021, and a complete ban on the sale of coal in England took effect in May 2023, with traditional house coal extracted and sold from the Forest of Dean exempt and able to continue selling locally1. Under the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020, wood sold in volumes under 2 cubic metres must be certified Ready to Burn with no more than 20% moisture content, and manufactured solid fuels must be certified as having a sulphur content below 2% on an ash-free dry basis and emitting no more than 5g of smoke an hour1.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Smoke Control Area penalty (England) | Up to £300 where a council decides a chimney emits too much smoke |
| Unauthorised fuel without exempt appliance | Fine up to £1,000 |
| Wood under 2 cubic metres | Must be Ready to Burn certified, maximum 20% moisture |
| Manufactured solid fuels | Sulphur below 2%, smoke no more than 5g per hour |
| Coal sale (England) | Banned from May 2023, Forest of Dean house coal exempt |
Why it matters for households
For homes that burn wood or solid fuel, the plan signals where regulation is heading rather than changing what is already installed. The proposed 3g limit applies to new appliances seeking exempt status, so an existing stove is not caught by it on the evidence available1. The rules that already bite are the fuel standards and Smoke Control Area enforcement. Amendments to the Clean Air Act 1993 made through the Environment Act 2021 changed the penalty from criminal to civil, which HETAS says allows local authorities to undertake enforcement action more readily1. Smoke from a chimney can also amount to a statutory nuisance under Part 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 anywhere in England, not only in a Smoke Control Area, where it is harmful to health or a nuisance1. For a household weighing up how secure its heating is, the practical exposure is to fuel quality rules and local enforcement rather than to a ban, which the plan rules out. Whether a home sits in a Smoke Control Area, and whether its appliance is exempt, has not been reported as changing under this plan.
What happens next
The plan sets out measures to be developed, including the tighter 3g limit for newly certified exempt appliances, extension of solid fuels legislation to fuels burned outside, and measures to move households away from older appliances1. No dates for these measures are given in the source. HETAS states that changes can be expected over the coming years1. The full plan is published on gov.uk1.
Households wanting the wider framework can read the guide to UK home energy regulation and policy, and the specific penalty for burning unauthorised fuel is covered in what is the fine for burning unauthorised fuel in a smoke control area.
Sources1 cited
- A stove users guide to enforcement - HETAS, hetas.co.uk