Sadiq Khan seeks ban on wood-burning stoves in London
Sadiq Khan is pushing to ban wood-burning stoves in parts of London as he ramps up clean air efforts in the capital, reports BritPanorama.
The Mayor of London wants to create specific zero-emissions zones where log-burning stoves, bonfires, and the burning of “solid fuels” would be restricted in private homes and gardens.
The Telegraph reports Lord Khan has urged the government to empower him and other local authority leaders to tackle solid fuel burning by allowing them to ban the stoves.
In a formal submission to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Lord Khan requested the authority to enforce tougher rules in London.
Current restrictions mean he can create smoke control areas on council property, such as parks and allotments, but stop short of banning residents from burning dry logs in wood burners that meet the current efficiency rules.
This initiative follows warnings from researchers that burning wood indoors could cause damage akin to cigarette smoke; a new study linked the increasing popularity of domestic wood burning to lung damage. Experts from University College London (UCL) confirmed that domestic wood burning is a major source of PM2.5 air pollution – tiny particles that penetrate deep into the lungs.
The Mayor has made London’s air quality a priority during his time in office, most notably by introducing the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) in 2019. A recent study estimated a 40 per cent reduction in deaths linked to toxic air across the capital over the five years from the beginning of the scheme to 2024.
Lord Khan has since advocated for the further expansion of the Ulez scheme, stating that there is “more to do” to improve air quality.
“The evidence is now overwhelming and unarguable: the bold action we have taken in London has reduced pollution, improved public health and saved lives,” he stated following the results of the study earlier this year.
He also noted, “From childhood asthma to dementia, we know what a wide range of illnesses are linked to air pollution. This latest data shows why expanding Ulez London-wide was even more important than we previously thought and is transforming lives right across our capital.”
The decision to expand the Ulez was met with mixed reactions. Critics, including potential challenger Sir James Cleverly MP, plan to oppose Khan in the 2028 mayoral elections. Cleverly accused the Mayor of “tying up London and Londoners in new red tape and bans”, asserting that priorities should be on policing the streets rather than regulating private choices regarding log burners.
Defra indicated it would support further consultations on additional powers that could be devolved to the Mayor or London boroughs to limit where burning can take place, potentially introducing area-specific bans for locations with high pollution levels.
Strengthening these requirements is considered crucial for London, where population density and high existing pollution levels mean that even minor increases in solid fuel burning can have significant adverse effects on air quality.
The Mayor’s office has been contacted for comment.
