Scottish Government U-turns on wood-burning and peat stove ban in new build homes amid backlash

The Scottish Government has U-turned on its plans to ban wood-burning and peat stoves in new build homes.

The regulations restricting the use of polluting heating systems came into force in April and prompted backlash from many Scots in rural parts of the country.

The change, part of the New Build Heat Standard (NBHS), meant new buildings wouldn’t be allowed to use “direct emission or polluting heating systems”.

That included oil and gas boilers as well as bioenergy where electricity or heat is generated from organic matter.

But minister for climate action Alasdair Allan revealed in a letter to local authorities on Thursday that he has now issued a ministerial direction which temporarily reverses the ban.

It comes after the Scottish Government announced a review into the NBHS following the public backlash around wood-burning stoves.

That review is now concluding and ministers said they would implement its recommendations by the end of the year.

“In advance of the legislative amendment and to ensure current concerns on the use of woodburning stoves and bioenergy are addressed promptly and with consistency, I am now issuing a direction which temporarily disapplies the requirement for the installation of zero direct emissions heating systems to enable applicants to install a bioenergy or peat heating system or appliance,” the climate action minister said.

After sustained pressure from the industry, rural communities and the @scottories, the SNP have u-turned on their wood-burning stove ban.

However, this is only temporary and we will continue to call for this ban to be permanent and compensation for businesses already affected. pic.twitter.com/xh1HRx3nCW
— Rachael Hamilton MSP Scottish Borders (@Rachael2Win) September 19, 2024

The Scottish Conservatives welcomed the move, which it described as a “humiliating U-turn” but said it was “overdue”.

MSP Rachael Hamilton told First Minister John Swinney at FMQs: “This morning the SNP government has caved into pressure from the Scottish Conservatives to abandon their misguided ban on wood burning stoves which would have stopped the installation of wood burning stoves in new homes.

“Hundreds of constituents who rely on these heating systems have shared with me the harmful impact this ban could have, particularly those living in rural communities and those facing extreme winter conditions.

“Will the First Minister now commit to a permanent ban on the issue and policy he has brought forward and will he also consider looking at the businesses who have been affected and compensate them for job losses?”

Swinney replied: “The Government has set out its position and if Rachael Hamilton’s response is a supposed welcome to the Government agreeing them then I’d hate to see what her reaction would be if we said we’d disagreed with her.”