Why is this being proposed?

Air pollution remains the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) estimates 29,000 to 43,000 deaths per year are linked to air pollution, with vulnerable groups, such as children, older adults, and those with pre-existing health conditions being at the highest risk.

Domestic solid fuel burning (such as wood-burning stoves and open fires) is a major contributor to particulate matter (PM). While PM comes in various sizes, the smallest particles, known as PM2.5, are particularly hazardous to health.

Because of their microscopic size, these particles can bypass the body’s natural filters, entering deep into the lungs and bloodstream. This exposure is a significant factor in serious respiratory and cardiovascular issues, as well as other longer-term health complications.

In alignment with our Air Quality Action Plan and National strategies, the Council is committed to measures that improve local air quality. By reviewing our current system, the Council aims to:

• Identify the most effective way to reduce harmful smoke and soot emissions across our communities
• Ensure residents and businesses have clear, accessible information on the standards for fuel and appliances
• Align local policy with the UK Government’s Clean Air Strategy to ensure the Council has the necessary powers to tackle local air quality issues effectively

Consultation overview

Warwick District Council is seeking the views of residents, business owners, and local stakeholders on proposed options to update and modernise its Smoke Control Areas (SCAs) across the district.

Currently, Smoke Control Orders (SCOs) only cover specific parts of the district (Kenilworth, Leamington, Whitnash, and Warwick town centres).

These orders were established under older legislation and do not reflect the modern standards set out in the government’s latest Clean Air Strategy.

The Council is now consulting on six potential options to update these arrangements. Your feedback will help the Council decide which approach best balances local needs with environmental responsibilities.

What is a Smoke Control Area?

If your property falls within a SCA, it does not mean a ban on domestic solid fuel burning. It does, however, introduce legal requirements to ensure that what you burn does not cause harmful levels of smoke pollution.

How to comply with the rules

• Approved Fuels: you can burn “authorised” smokeless fuels (such as anthracite or specific low-smoke briquettes).
• Approved Appliances: you can only burn ‘non-authorised’ and smokeless fuels if you use a DEFRA-exempt appliance which is designed to burn fuel cleanly. Some examples of non-authorised fuels include seasoned wood or wood pellets
• Right Fuel, Right Stove: even with an approved stove, you must only use the specific types of fuel recommended by the manufacturer.

Understanding the regulations

• Smoke emissions: if your chimney releases substantial smoke within an SCA, you may be issued a civil penalty which ranges from £175 to £300. The Councils primary goal is to provide advice and support to help residents achieve compliance.
• Fuel sales: it is an offence to buy or sell unauthorised fuel for use in an SCA unless it is for use in an exempt appliance. Penalties to retailers for the sale of non-compliant fuel can reach up to £1,000.

More information available at: Smoke Control Areas - A practical guide

The options for Warwick District

We have identified six potential ways forward. Each option offers a different approach to managing smoke emissions, and we want to understand which one you feel is most appropriate for our community.

Note: For any of the ‘expansion’ or ’District-wide’ options to be implemented, the Council would first need to revoke all existing SCOs. This ensures there is no overlap or confusion, replacing our current outdated records with a single, legally verified system that is consistent with modern standards.

Please consider these carefully before responding to the consultation.

Option	Approach	What it means for you
Option 1	District-Wide	Every building in Warwick District would be included. This means the same air quality rules apply to everyone.
Option 2	Status Quo (no change)	No new areas added. Regulations still only apply to the current SCAs in the town centres of Kenilworth, Leamington, Warwick and Whitnash. If you live outside these specific areas, you remain unaffected.
Option 3	Main Urban Focus	Controls would be expanded to cover the entirety of the main towns, as defined by the Local Plan urban boundaries.
Option 4	Urban & Village Growth	Includes all main towns plus villages earmarked for growth in the Local Plan. This ensures that new housing developments in larger villages follow the same environmental standards.
Option 5	Urban, Village & Brownfields	A broad approach including all towns, growth villages, and redeveloped industrial sites (brownfields). This ensures future regeneration projects are built with smoke control in mind.
Option 6	District-wide, excluding homes without gas	A district-wide order, but with a specific exclusion for homes not connected to the gas grid. This protects rural residents who may rely on solid fuel as a primary heating source due to lack of local gas infrastructure.