Oxford City Council is moving ahead with its plans to expand Oxford’s Smoke Control Area, following the results of its recent public consultation.
Last month, Oxford residents and businesses were asked for their views on the Council’s proposals to introduce a city-wide Smoke Control Area - replacing the current patchwork of existing Smoke Control Areas which currently covers just 48% of the city.
Under the new plans, several areas of the city that are not in an existing Smoke Control Area - including north Oxford (from Summertown up to Wolvercote), Rose Hill, Littlemore, New Headington, Old Marston, and parts of the Temple Cowley - could be incorporated into the new city-wide area.
The eight-week consultation - which ran from Monday 4 December 2023 to Wednesday 31 January 2024, saw 443 responses in total.
When asked if they agreed with the proposal to expand Oxford’s smoke control area, 52% of responses said that they agreed with the proposals, with 42% of responses disagreeing.
| Response | Total number of responses | Percentage of responses |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 230 | 51.92% |
| No | 188 | 42.44% |
| Not sure/Prefer not to say/Not answered | 25 | 5.64% |
A summary report on the consultation responses will be published on the Council’s consultation page.
What is a Smoke Control Area?
Smoke Control Areas aim to improve air quality by encouraging people to use wood burning stoves and open fires in a more efficient and cleaner way. The legislation aims to reduce smoke being emitted from these appliances and protects the public from microscopic particles (PM2.5) - both inside and outside the home - that can cause serious health conditions.
Within a smoke control area, residents and businesses will still be able to buy and use solid fuel and wood burning stoves/open fires, provided that they:
- Use an approved wood-burning stove/appliance or
- Use an authorised fuel with an unapproved stove/appliance or open fire
Next steps
In September 2023, the Council’s Cabinet approved the plans to expand the Smoke Control Area, following a public consultation.
Following the consultation, the Council will be applying to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to request approval to create an extended Smoke Control Area for Oxford.
If approved, the new Smoke Control Area is expected to be introduced in Autumn 2024 – however the Council will share a detailed timeline following a decision from DEFRA.
Comment
“I want to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and shared their views on the expansion of Oxford’s Smoke Control Area.
“Smoke Control Areas aim to encourage everyone who uses solid fuel with wood burning stoves and open fires to do it as efficiently and cleanly as possible. Particulate pollution and its health impacts are a growing concern, so I am pleased that we are able to take this next step to reduce both the indoor and outdoor particulate pollution across the city.”
Councillor Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice
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