Sadiq Khan prepares to ban log burners in London in his latest 'clean air' clampdown on the capital

Sadiq Khan is preparing to ban log burners across London in his latest 'clean air' clampdown.

In recent years, log burners have become the latest status symbol for middle-class Brits following the popularity of Aga cookers and Smeg fridges in years gone by. 

But for Londoners who have installed wood stoves in their fireplaces, often at a cost of between £2,000 and £4,000, they now face having to rip them out under new laws proposed by the Mayor of London.

To enforce the ban, Lord Khan wants to introduce area-specific bans through new zero-emission zones.   

The policy is part of a new set of proposals to cut emissions which also includes curbs on domestic bonfires. 

With the powers he currently has as mayor, Lord Khan faces hurdles in implementing his latest clampdown.

Currently, local authorities can implement smoke control areas and bonfire bans on council property, such as allotments.

But this only prohibits the burning of certain types of fuel, such as wet wood, and so homeowners can typically burn dry logs in modern wood burners, as long as they meet efficiency rules.  

Sadiq Khan wants to ban log burners forcing Londoners who have installed wood stoves in their fireplaces, often at a cost of between £2,000 to £4,000, to rip them out

In recent years, log burners have become the latest status symbol for middle-class Brits following the popularity of Aga cookers and Smeg fridges in years gone by

Lord Khan is asking the Government to devolve additional powers to him and other local authority leaders while urging ministers to 'go further' in their efforts to clamp down on so-called 'solid fuel burning'. 

He has argued that the current rules are hindering his efforts to reduce emissions while also claiming that small increases in solid-fuel burning can lead to disproportionate harm to health.   

Labour have already mulled fresh restrictions on wood-burning stoves in a bid to bring emission targets in line with the EU.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Sir James Cleverly accused Lord Khan of intruding into people's lives.

He said: 'Londoners need a mayor who will put policing our streets before policing our homes and gardens, prioritising getting things built over having a row with people about log burners.

'Instead of finding new ways to tie up London and Londoners in new red tape and bans, we need to unshackle London's potential and build a safer, cheaper, and more ambitious city we can be proud of again.'

During his tenure as mayor, Lord Khan has focused on cutting emissions across the capital.

These include the expansion of London's ultra-low-emission zone (ULEZ), and his backing of 'active travel' policies such as low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and giving over more of the road network to cyclists. 

Sir James Cleverly, who has his eyes on the Tory nomination for Mayor in the 2028 election, accused Lord Khan of intruding into people's lives

However, the expansion of ULEZ into areas of car-dependent outer London has angered many voters who accused Lord Khan of launching a war on motorists.

In June, the Daily Mail found that ULEZ had not improved the air quality in the Big Smoke as the Mayor had claimed.

Last year, the Mayor of London credited the £12.50-per-day ultra low emission zone with bringing levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) across the capital to within legal limits for the first time.

But analysis of official air quality figures from local authorities suggests more than half of all boroughs are still recording illegal levels of the toxic gas, which is largely emitted from diesel vehicles.

The NO2 is an annual average of 40 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) of air. Last year, a report from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs claimed London fell wholly within this limit for 2024.

However, at least 18 areas of the capital are still recording annual average levels above this at individual monitoring stations.

One in the centre of Romford recorded an annualised average almost twice the limit in 2024, as did several stations in the City of London - where ULEZ was introduced seven years ago.

In June, a spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 'London's ULEZ, the world's largest clean air zone, has been a huge success in cleaning up London's air, with harmful roadside NO2 concentrations now 24 per cent lower in outer London compared to without the ULEZ in place.

'Air quality data from Defra shows that London met legal limits for nitrogen dioxide for the first time in 2024.

'We know the damage that air pollution can cause to the health of Londoners so we always look at all the data available in the capital to get a clear picture of the work that still needs to be done.

'All Londoners are now breathing much cleaner air, but there is still more to do and the Mayor will continue to take action as we build a greener, fairer London for everyone.'