THE Scottish Government has committed to “reviewing and adapting” the regulations on wood burning stoves and biomass boilers.
The ban on wood-burning stoves in new-build Scottish homes came into effect on April 1, alongside a similar ban on oil and gas boilers.
The Scottish Government stressed at the time that there are exemptions “for emergency heating systems”. However, the regulations suggest that there will be “little justification” for an exemption in normal dwellings and led to backlash from the industry and rural communities.
Responding to a question in Holyrood from Scottish Tories MSP Rachael Hamilton on plans to review the New Build Heat Standard, Minister for Climate Action Gillian Martin said she has been listening to the concerns raised by communities”.
“[The Scottish Government] will be reviewing the regulations on wood burning stoves and biomass boilers with an intention to adapt them to address the issues of inflexibility that they have raised,” Martin told MSPs.
“The outcome of this review will ensure resilience to interruptions of electricity and heating supply and respect for rural communities culture and traditions and sustainable systems.
“I want to ensure climate friendly alternatives to direct emissions are promoted in appropriate ways across Scotland with no unintended consequences.”
The minister committed to a review in “short order in collaboration with communities”.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes hailed the move as a “very significant moment".
The Highland MSP – who previously urged a rethink on the regulations – added: “This is excellent news and I’m grateful to everybody who got in touch with me expressing concerns about what was essentially a ban on installing wood stoves in new builds.
“This Government, lead by John Swinney who represents rural Perthshire, with my support as MSP for the Highlands, fully understands the priorities, concerns and ambitions of rural communities and we will change tack when required.”
Scottish Greens co-leader and former minister Patrick Harvie, meanwhile, hit out at the move from the SNP.
He said: “Isn't it clear that the situation we have now is that all we need is a little bit of lobbying from vested interests and a little bit of misinformation and the SNP will now start unravelling modest measures that have been put in place for good reasons."
