Tories hail ‘humiliating U-turn’ on woodburning stove restrictions

The Scottish Government has dropped restrictions on the installation of woodburning stoves in newbuild homes or conversions.

The Scottish Conservatives, who campaigned against the regulations, described the move as a “humiliating U-turn”.

Regulations, known as the New Build Heat Standard, came into effect at the start of April, meaning new homes and buildings are not allowed to use direct-emission heating systems including gas or oil boilers.

In May, then climate action minister Gillian Martin announced a review in relation to concerns.

On Thursday, the current climate action minister, Alasdair Allan, wrote in a letter to council bosses that the restriction on heating systems such as woodburning stoves would be temporarily dropped.

He added: “The review is now concluding and we will implement the outcome of this by the end of December 2024.”

Tory deputy rural affairs spokesman Jamie Halcro Johnston said: “This long overdue climbdown by the SNP on their deeply flawed ban is a welcome move.

“Sustained pressure from the Scottish Conservatives – including when I held a member’s debate in Parliament – as well as from our rural and island communities has now forced ministers into a humiliating U-turn.

“The consequences of imposing such a ban on installing woodburning stoves in new homes would have been devastating for those that rely on them, especially when there are periods of extreme weather.

“However, with the lifting of this ban still only temporary, the Scottish Conservatives will continue to urge the SNP to do the right thing and make it permanent.”

The party’s rural affairs spokeswoman, Rachael Hamilton, raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood, praising the decision to drop the “misguided ban”.

She called on First Minister John Swinney to make the change permanent and to compensate businesses for job losses.

Mr Swinney told her the Government has “set out its position”.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ministers confirmed to parliament in May that there would be a review of the New Build Heat Standard, with the intention to adapt it to address issues of inflexibility raised by communities – particularly regarding the installation of woodburning stoves in new homes in rural areas.

“The minister for climate action has now written to local authorities to temporarily relax the Standard in relation to the use of bioenergy and peat heating, pending the conclusion of that formal review.

“This does not have any implications for the outcome of the review which is currently concluding – any regulatory amendments will be introduced by the end of the year.

“The New Build Heat Standard only applies to new homes and buildings – there is currently no regulation of the type of heat in existing buildings.”