The UK Government has delivered some welcome news for the woodburning community: modern wood-burning stoves will be allowed as a secondary heat source in homes built to the upcoming Future Homes Standard (FHS). The confirmation arrived in a formal letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government following a joint industry submission led by the Stove Industry Association (SIA) and backed by more than 1,500 businesses and woodland owners.
What the Government said
“Under the standards proposed in the consultation, a wood-burning stove would be permitted as a secondary heating source in new homes.”
This assurance comes on the back of last year’s public consultation on the FHS, whose aim is to make every new property “zero-carbon ready”—requiring no retrofitting as the national electricity grid continues to decarbonise.
Andy Dimond, Sales & Marketing Manager at SFL Flues & Chimneys, hailed the decision as “a very positive and pragmatic step,” which recignises the role modern stoves can play in supporting both energy resilience and net-zero goals when partnered with other renewables.
Why modern wood stoves deserve their place
The industry coalition highlighted five compelling reasons:
•Cleaner air – Today’s Ecodesign stoves produce dramatically lower emissions than older appliances and open fires.
•Energy resilience – Off grid heat that keeps you warm during power cuts.
•Support for local economies – Buying sustainably sourced logs sustains woodland management and rural jobs.
•Consumer choice – Homeowners retain a vital low-carbon option alongside heat pumps and solar.
•Technological innovation – Continuous advances in efficiency and emissions control make each generation of stoves cleaner than the last.
Charnwood: Ready for the future homes standard
At Charnwood we have spent more than fifty years leading and refining combustion technology, ensuring our stoves perform even better than Ecodesign requirements dictate. Our latest launch, the Skye E700 Intelligent Stove, monitors and controls the fire with a micro-processor that adjusts airflow automatically and achieves a highly impressive 89 per cent efficiency—making it ideally suited to the high-performance demands by the FHS.
Whether you’re planning a new build or simply future-proofing an existing property, our clearSkies-certified range offers:
•Ultra-low emissions – up to 90 per cent cleaner than an open fire
•Reduced running costs – less fuel for the same comforting heat
•Effortless operation – In the case of the E700 – just load it, light it, leave it; the stove does the rest
Next steps for homeowners and self-builders
•Explore our range of stoves by visiting your local authorised Charnwood stockist for tailored advice on sizing and specification.
•Stay informed by signing up to our newsletter.
•Include a modern stove in your heating design to safeguard comfort during power outages or energy-price spikes.
A return to common sense
The Government’s decision recognises what stove owners already know: when used responsibly, modern wood-burning appliances are part of the low-carbon solution, not the problem. With continued innovation, which Charnwood are committed to, and clear guidance from bodies like the SIA, the woodburing stove is set to play a key supporting role in Britain’s homes of the future—providing efficiency, resilience and that unique cosy atmosphere.