Can I burn wood in London?
……is a question that’s frequently asked.
The answer to that question is yes, but only when done so correctly.
The Clean Air Acts of 1956 aimed to control domestic air pollution by introducing “smokelesszones” where only smokeless fuels could be burnt.
London is a smokeless zone, meaning that the burning of wood and coal is not permitted. Ok, so it sounds like burning wood is not allowed. Well not entirely. You cannot burn wood or coal in an open fire in London e.g. in a basket or insert fire. However, you can burn smokeless fuel which is manufactured to produce less smoke. Smokeless fuel is still a fossil fuel and therefore not renewable.
Alternatively…
You can burn wood in London in a DEFRA approved appliance. Not all woodburners are DEFRA approved, although many manufacturers now offer a good range.
Wood is a renewable fuel, which is also carbon neutral.
What does that mean?
In the life of a tree it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and will provide twenty times more oxygen than is required for combustion, which in turn releases no more CO2 than it would if it were laying in a forest decaying. Burning wood warms you, but not planet earth.
So how can we help you?
Brown’s of London offer an excellent range of MORSO, which is a Danish brand with over 163 years of history in casting and stove manufacture. They offer a full range of DEFRA approved stoves both traditional & contemporary from the Squirrel, at home in a traditional fireplace, through to the 7900 freestanding cylinder series which look amazing in an open plan family space.
No chimney, no problem. We can supply & install a twin wall insulated chimney system. We will take care of everything for you and make your dreams of a woodburner become a reality.
If you would like to speak to an expert, please contact us on 020 7624 4756 or contact via our website here.
Our next blog will cover lighting your stove without firelighters & how to handle downdraught.
