The SNP government is effectively “outlawing” peat-cutting with a ban on solid fuel
stoves sneaked in under new building regulations, Torcuil Crichton has warned.
The Western Isles Labour candidate slammed building regulations which would spell
and end to solid fuel heating and woodburning stoves in new-build houses.
Guidance in new Scottish building standards issued this month confirms: “Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that the means by which space within the building is heated or cooled and by which hot water is made available in the building is not by means of a direct emission heating system.”
Crichton said: “The regulations are part of the SNP/Green coalition attempts to reach
net zero goals by targeting wood burning stoves but completely disregard how off-grid
housing on islands and rural Scotland rely on solid fuel heating, including peat
and wood.”
The Scottish Government sparked outrage across the country with many claiming the
regulations were introduced with little or no consultation or pre-publicity.
The new rules forbid the use of “direct emission heating systems” and only applies to new builds.
Torcuil Crichton said: “This is another example of SNP/Green policy-making from the
warmth of Edinburgh offices with complete ignorance of cold comfort it will mean
for people building or converting island homes.”
“We must have missed these regulations while we were all poring over the details of Highly Protected Marine Areas, another made in Edinburgh, dumped on the Hebrides policy which would have closed down the Western Isles fishing industry.”
Mr Crichton added: “The regulations allow exemptions for “emergency heating systems”
and we need the clarity and assurance that this applies to all new-build island homes
which by their location are susceptible to power-supply interruptions.”
He said: “Left to stand these regulations will in time mean goodbye to the peat-burning
stove and effectively outlaw the tradition of peat-cutting.
“You only cut peats for one reason - to burn them in your stove and under these regulations
having a solid fuel stove in a new house will be against the law.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Heating our homes and buildings represents about a fifth of Scotland’s carbon emissions so tackling the climate emergency requires us to address these emissions.
“Proposals in the New Build Heat Standard, which came into force from 1 April 2024, were widely consulted on in 2021 and again in 2022. Both consultations showed strong support for the new standard.
“The changes mean that new homes and buildings do not contribute to climate emissions, by banning the use of polluting heating systems such as oil and gas boilers, and bioenergy – including woodburning stoves.
“Existing homes are completely unaffected as the standard will not apply to the installation of heating in homes and buildings built before 2024.”
SNP effectively ‘outlawing’ peat-
9 April 2024
