Latest news with #Communities&LocalGovernment
Telegraph
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Wood-burning stoves to be allowed in new homes
Wood-burning stoves will be allowed in new homes in England. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has written to the Stove Industry Association (SIA) confirming that they can be used as a secondary heating source. The Government is currently working on a 'future homes standard' to ensure that new homes can become zero carbon, and it was feared wood-burning stoves would be outlawed in the guidance. Log burners have attracted the ire of environmentalists who claim they are dangerous to health and contribute to carbon emissions. A report by Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, found that even modern wood-burning stoves produced 450 times more toxic air pollution than gas central heating. But the Government said it acknowledged that it was possible to significantly reduce smoke by using the 'right fuels, appliances and practices'. Andy Hill, chairman of the SIA, said: 'We are delighted that it has been officially confirmed that under the proposed future homes standard, the installation of a wood-burning stove will be permitted, and we are also particularly heartened to see that the Government acknowledges the impact of domestic burning best practices. 'Responsible use of modern wood-burning appliances is something the SIA and its members have advocated for over many years. 'The SIA welcomes the Government's positive response and looks forward to continued engagement as policies are developed and implemented. 'We believe that modern wood-burning stoves can play a crucial role in achieving cleaner air, supporting local economies, and providing consumers with sustainable and flexible heating choices.' Secondary heating source The Government's decision comes after more than 1,500 businesses and woodland owners wrote to ministers in February arguing that modern wood-burning stoves are far cleaner and could help reduce reliance on electricity, gas, and liquid fuels. They argued that unlike open fires and older burners, modern systems emitted significantly lower levels of harmful PM2.5 emissions. In a letter to the SIA, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said: 'A full technical consultation on the Future Homes Standard was launched in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. 'Under the standards proposed in the consultation, a wood-burning stove would be permitted as a secondary heating source in new homes. 'The Government acknowledges that it is possible to significantly reduce the level of smoke emitted through domestic burning if the right fuels, appliances and practices are used.' In November, the Scottish Government also scrapped its controversial ban on installing wood-burning stoves in new homes following a huge backlash in rural Scotland. A government spokesperson said: 'The Future Homes and Buildings Standard, to be published later this year, will ensure all new homes are energy efficient and use low-carbon heating systems. 'As set out in the Future Homes Standard consultation, the use of a wood fuel appliance as a primary heating system would not achieve the standards proposed, however, their installation would still be permitted as a secondary heating source.' However, anti-pollution groups said they were disappointed and surprised by the latest decision. Research carried out by Imperial College London suggests that log burners in homes are creating new 'pollution hotspots' away from main roads in residential streets. Jemima Hartshorn, the co-founder of the Mums for Lungs campaign group, told the Guardian: 'Due to the high amount of greenhouse gases emitted when burning wood and solid fuels, the Climate Change Committee strongly advises that it needs to be phased out as it is not carbon neutral and has no place in how homes should be heated in the 21st century.' 'We know that wood burning is one of the major sources of toxic air pollution that is killing tens of thousands of people every year and is linked to a range of serious and life-changing diseases. 'This is a very disappointing and surprising decision by government.'
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'We can't deliver 130% rise in housing targets'
A Lincolnshire council leader has described new housing targets as "unrealistic". East Lindsey District Council leader Craig Leyland is "challenging" the government after being told the area must see a 130% rise in the number of new homes every year. He says the ambition to build more "must be rational". The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said Lincolnshire has to "play its part" in building more homes. The government has pledged to see 1.5 million new homes built in England between now and the next General Election. New, mandatory targets for Lincolnshire mean a total of 1,552 a year - a rise of 52 percent on previous targets under the Conservative government. Within that figure, each district has been given its own target and in East Lindsey it jumps from 437 to 912 homes per year. Councillor Leyland said that the council is "seeking to understand where the figures have been arrived at". He says the council is "granting enough planning permissions" which are not always acted upon by developers. The challenges of building by the coast, because of flood risk, and the Lincolnshire Wolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, make the targets even more unachievable, he claims. "That forces the development into our market towns and small communities which are already struggling," he said. Evie Capps, aged 20, from Horncastle in East Lindsey, is living with her parents, and works full-time in a cafe. "In order to buy a house, I would have to have £10,000 saved and I would have to earn at least three times more than I do now," she said. "There should be more houses, not overcrowding. It would be better for the community." As well as setting the new targets, the government has also promised to overhaul the planning system. Lincolnshire developer Steve Gelder, founder of the Gelder Group, is sceptical about the targets currently being met "because we don't have the skilled workforce and the planning system gets in the way". Housing is a key issue in next month's Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral elections. Conservative candidate Rob Waltham said the targets are "undeliverable" because "the sites to build them haven't been allocated and to do that you'd have to go through a whole new process with local plans". Andrew Jenkyns, who is standing for Reform UK, said "we need to build more homes but need to ensure local people have a true voice and are properly consulted". Trevor Young, the Liberal Democrat candidate, said the targets are "unrealistic": "It's okay for the government to come up with idealistic targets but where are the jobs and money coming from?" Marianne Overton from the Lincolnshire Independents said she "has fought hard against the imposition of over-ambitious targets which are very hard to meet". Sally Horscroft of the Green Party said "we would do our best to deliver but it has to be the right housing in the right places". Jason Stockwood, Labour candidate, has been approached for comment. In a statement, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said the targets are "vital given we have inherited the worst housing crisis in living memory". "Alongside this, we have taken decisive action to build up essential skills in the construction industry, including training up to 60,000 more engineers, bricklayers, electricians, and joiners by 2029 to tackle skills shortages," it said. Government to fall short of housing target, figures suggest Some councils ordered to increase home building by 400%, new BBC tracker shows You can see more on this story on Politics North at 10:00 GMT on BBC One on Sunday or on BBC iPlayer. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here, external. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government East Lindsey District Council
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New housing targets for Lincolnshire "unrealistic" says council
A Lincolnshire council leader has described new housing targets as "unrealistic".East Lindsey District Council leader Craig Leyland is "challenging" the government after being told the area must see a 130% rise in the number of new homes every says the ambition to build more "must be rational".The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said Lincolnshire has to "play its part" in building more homes. The government has pledged to see 1.5 million new homes built in England between now and the next General mandatory targets for Lincolnshire mean a total of 1,552 a year - a rise of 52 percent on previous targets under the Conservative that figure, each district has been given its own target and in East Lindsey it jumps from 437 to 912 homes per Leyland said that the council is "seeking to understand where the figures have been arrived at".He says the council is "granting enough planning permissions" which are not always acted upon by challenges of building by the coast, because of flood risk, and the Lincolnshire Wolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, make the targets even more unachievable, he claims."That forces the development into our market towns and small communities which are already struggling," he said. Evie Capps, aged 20, from Horncastle in East Lindsey, is living with her parents, and works full-time in a cafe."In order to buy a house, I would have to have £10,000 saved and I would have to earn at least three times more than I do now," she said."There should be more houses, not overcrowding. It would be better for the community." As well as setting the new targets, the government has also promised to overhaul the planning developer Steve Gelder, founder of the Gelder Group, is sceptical about the targets currently being met "because we don't have the skilled workforce and the planning system gets in the way". Housing is a key issue in next month's Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral candidate Rob Waltham said the targets are "undeliverable" because "the sites to build them haven't been allocated and to do that you'd have to go through a whole new process with local plans".Andrew Jenkyns, who is standing for Reform UK, said "we need to build more homes but need to ensure local people have a true voice and are properly consulted".Trevor Young, the Liberal Democrat candidate, said the targets are "unrealistic": "It's okay for the government to come up with idealistic targets but where are the jobs and money coming from?"Marianne Overton from the Lincolnshire Independents said she "has fought hard against the imposition of over-ambitious targets which are very hard to meet".Sally Horscroft of the Green Party said "we would do our best to deliver but it has to be the right housing in the right places".Jason Stockwood, Labour candidate, has been approached for comment. In a statement, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said the targets are "vital given we have inherited the worst housing crisis in living memory"."Alongside this, we have taken decisive action to build up essential skills in the construction industry, including training up to 60,000 more engineers, bricklayers, electricians, and joiners by 2029 to tackle skills shortages," it said. You can see more on this story on Politics North at 10:00 GMT on BBC One on Sunday or on BBC to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here, external.
Euronews
31-01-2025
- Business
- Euronews
UK house prices rise but growth slows on high borrowing costs
The UK Nationwide House Price Index for January was released on Friday, increasing 4.1% on an annual basis, according to Nationwide Building Society. This was a fall from the two-and-a-half-year high of 4.7% seen in December, while also missing analyst expectations of 4.3%. House prices rose 0.1% on a month-on-month basis in January, down from 0.7% in December, as well as below market estimates of 0.3%. This was mainly because of ongoing high interest rates, as well as high deposit requirements, which have made it much harder for purchasers, especially first-time buyers, to save for a deposit. Soaring rents and an ongoing cost of living crisis have also exacerbated this situation. Robert Gardner, chief economist at Nationwide, said in the house price index report on the company's website: 'The housing market continues to show resilience despite ongoing affordability pressures. "As we highlighted in our recent affordability report, while there has been a modest improvement over the last year, affordability remains stretched by historic standards." He added: 'A prospective buyer earning the average UK income and buying a typical first-time buyer property with a 20% deposit would have a monthly mortgage payment equivalent to 36% of their take-home pay – well above the long-run average of 30%. 'Furthermore, house prices remain high relative to average earnings, with the first-time buyer house price to earnings ratio standing at 5.0 at the end of 2024, still well above the long run average of 3.9.' Gardner highlighted that approximately 40% of first-time buyers needed to turn to family and friends for help in getting a deposit together in 2023-2024. This included loans, gifts and inheritances. However, despite these obstacles, overall home ownership levels have not changed much in the last few years, staying stable at 65% in 2024, according to the latest English Housing Survey by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). UK housing market remains resilient Although house prices rose less than expected in January, the housing market has remained resilient lately, despite increasIng worries about the UK's economic outlook, after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed £40 billion (€47.86bn) in tax raises in her first Budget. Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest said in a statement: 'While the start to 2025 is slightly more muted than the previous month, demand remains robust, something likely to continue over the next couple of months as buyers rush through deals ahead of an increase in stamp duty land tax from the start of April. 'The Government's decision not to extend the current relief on stamp duty thresholds beyond the end of March is likely to be a motivating factor for many first-time buyers. "Another motivating factor could come next week if the Bank of England delivers a third rate cut, a move likely to give slightly improving affordability levels another boost.' She continued: 'Add in the prospect of more support from the Government if proposals to loosen lending rules go ahead and the outlook for first-time buyers and those looking to refinance or upsize may certainly be improving.' However, she highlighted that whether this resilience continues after stamp duty thresholds go back to their lower levels, from 1 April 2025, is yet to be seen. This could possibly inflate the price of a house purchase considerably.
