The SNP has U-turned on their wood-burning stove ban, with Climate Minister, Alasdair Allan temporarily pausing controversial guidance issued earlier this year until the new law can be changed. 

The Scottish Tories described it as a "long overdue climbdown" of the policy spearheaded by Green co-convenor Patrick Harvie during his time in government. 

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The New Build Heat Standard required all new Scottish homes and buildings to install “climate-friendly heating systems” and forbid the use of direct emission heating (DEH) systems in any house where the building warrant was applied for after April 1.

Effectively, this meant that new houses and conversions were not allowed to use gas or oil boilers, or any form of bioenergy where electricity or heat is generated from organic matter such as wood.

Instead, housebuilders were expected to use what are known as zero DEH systems such as heat pumps, solar thermal storage systems or electric storage heaters.

The new rules did allow exceptions for DEH systems permitted for as "emergency heating" but there was widespread confusion over what this meant. 

 

One of the most prominent critics was Kate Forbes, who was, at the time, out of government.

A review was launched into the standard shortly after she became John Swinney's Deputy First Minister, following the breakdown of the Bute House Agreement, and the collapse of Humza Yousaf's leadership.

In a letter to local authority bosses on Thursday, Dr Allan said: “The review is now concluding and we will implement the outcome of this by the end of December 2024. The review examined the role of both wood-burning stoves and bioenergy systems more widely, as well as peat.

“In advance of the legislative amendment and to ensure current concerns on the use of wood-burning 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.”

Magnus Davidson, a research associate at the University of Highlands and Islands’ Environmental Research Institute, said: “This is good news and very interesting recognition for those living closely with peatlands. 

“Another showcase of rural communities achieving positive changes to poorly thought out policy from the Edinburgh parliament.”

The u-turn was raised during First Minister's Questions, by Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton who said her party was responsible for forcing the government to change tack. 

She said: "This morning, the SNP government has caved in to pressure from the Scottish Conservatives to abandon its 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 those heating systems have shared with me the harmful impact of such a ban, particularly on those who live in rural communities and those facing extreme winter conditions.

"Will the First Minister now commit to a permanent ban of the policy that he has introduced? Will he also consider looking at the businesses that have been affected and offer them compensation for their job losses?"

Mr Swinney replied: "The Government has set out its position. If Rachael Hamilton’s response is a supposed welcome to the Government’s agreeing with her, I would hate to hear what her reaction would be if we said that we disagreed with her."

News of the change in policy came as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) called for the stoves to be phased out.

In a new position statement, they said there needed to be tougher government action to curb air pollution. 

One key recommendation is to “phase out domestic wood-burning in urban areas, assist rural residents to transition away from wood as a primary heating source and support those in fuel poverty with fuel cost assistance”.

Dr Mike McKean, the RCPCH’s vice-president for policy and a paediatric respiratory consultant, said: “This year, air pollution has officially overtaken high blood pressure and smoking as the leading contributor to global disease. Exposure to air pollution is now the second leading risk factor for death in children under five, both globally and in the UK.

"As a consultant in respiratory paediatrics, I am especially concerned about the impact of air pollution on a child’s developing lungs.

"Breathing dirty air as a child irreversibly stunts lung growth and continues to affect lung capacity in adulthood, in some cases it can even result in death."