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<p>Planning is the responsibility of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local
Government (MHCLG). My Department is working with MHCLG on their update on the National
Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The NPPF requires that planning policies should
sustain compliance with and contribute towards EU limit values or national objectives
for pollutants.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>On 22 May, we published our Clean Air
Strategy for consultation which aims to cut air pollution and save lives. The strategy
includes plans to introduce new environmental legislation which will ensure only the
cleanest domestic fuels will be available for sale and only the cleanest stoves will
be available to buy and install in England, preventing 8,000 tonnes of harmful particulate
matter from entering the atmosphere each year. Cleaner fuels and stoves produce less
smoke, less soot and more heat.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We will be launching
a further detailed consultation later this year on our proposals to phase out the
most polluting domestic fuels.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Ahead of introducing
new legislation, my Department has been working with industry sectors to introduce
voluntary initiatives. This has seen the introduction of Ecodesign Ready labelling
by the stove industry in February 2017 which brings in emission standards ahead of
the EU Regulatory deadline of 2022.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have also worked
with the wood fuel industry on the Ready to Burn scheme which was launched in Autumn
2017. The scheme informs consumers about the importance of using clean, quality wood-fuel
to improve air quality which will reduce harmful emissions.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>In addition, my Department have also been working with other industry sectors,
such as chimney sweep organisations to provide advice to consumers in their own homes.
This has resulted in an information guide (<a href="https://tinyurl.com/y8clbglu"
target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/y8clbglu</a>) which provides clear advice on the
procedures to follow when lighting a stove, to minimise smoke emissions.</p><p> </p>
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