Wednesday, 15 February 2023
The number of stove models officially exempt from UK smoke control regulations has increased ten-fold since 2010, a new study has revealed.
The results were published by Dr James Heydon, an expert in environmental regulation in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham.
Based on an analysis of over 18,000 government records of heating and cooking appliances exempt from smoke control rules, and interviews with air pollution officers from local councils across the UK, the research shows how the Deregulation Act 2015 opened the door to a market of stoves exempt from urban air pollution controls (see graph).
Stoves and Non-stoves Exempt Under the Clean Air Act 1993, 2005-2021
Dr Heydon said: “The UK government’s own data shows that solid fuel burning in homes is the single biggest source of particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in the country. This research shows how the government has helped to create this situation by encouraging a whole market of stoves exempt from regulatory control.”
The study finds that the Deregulation Act 2015 removed obstacles to stove manufacturers certifying their appliances as ‘exempt’ from smoke control area rules. This change was justified on the basis of removing delays to business and improving consumer choice. No consideration was given to the environmental public health consequences arising from encouraging expansion of this market.
The UK Government must reconsider its open-door approach to excluding stoves from smoke control rules. This policy has encouraged market expansion for almost a decade, contributing to the nationwide air pollution problems we’re now seeing. Given the number of stoves it has already exempt from smoke controls, the government must now give serious consideration to also regulating their sale, installation and use across urban areas.
To find out more about this study, visit: https://academic.oup.com/bjc/advance-article/doi/10.1093/bjc/azac102/7022236
Story credits
More information is available from Dr James Heydon in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Nottingham at James.Heydon@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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