GAS BOILERS BAN
City ditches hobs too as part of its fight against climate change
ONE city has banned gas hobs and boilers from all new homes from 2025 in a bid to tackle the climate change crisis.
The new rules are to be introduced as part of a wider scheme aimed at hitting carbon net zero by 2040.
Developers in charge of more than 9,600 new houses that are slated to be built in Oxford will be banned from installing gas heating and cooking appliances, with limited exceptions.
Residential homes account for about 16% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. There is no specific ban on gas hobs, although many new-builds will increasingly not be connected to the gas grid as developers incorporate net zero technology such as induction and electric hobs, and heat pumps.
In September, PM Rishi Sunak pushed back a number of green targets 10 years to 2035, including the ban on new gas boilers, and petrol and diesel cars. A national timetable aims to meet net zero by 2050.
Steve Turner, executive director at the Home Builders Federation, said: “The industry is committed to the Government’s very challenging agenda to make new homes even more efficient and is working with stakeholders to deliver it.
“We need all parties, including central and local government, to work together and avoid diverging off the developing plan.”
Under the Oxford scheme, developers which fail to meet the requirements would be made to contribute to council funds ringfenced to combat climate change. Louise Upton, cabinet member for planning, said: “This technology exists. Forward-thinking developers are already building these homes.” Houses with gas hobs emit around twice the nitrogen dioxide of those with electric stoves.