Smoke Control Areas
Solid fuel burning, such as wood and coal fires, releases particulate matter and other pollutants which can harm air quality. View more information on air quality.
To protect air quality and the health of residents, some areas of Chorley have been designated smoke control areas. View Chorley smoke control areas map.
As a result of this, there is a limit on how much smoke you can release from a chimney. You can only burn authorised fuels in an open fireplace or on an exempt appliances. View more information on smoke control areas on the GOV.UK website.
Details of both the authorised fuels and exempt wood burning stoves can be found on the Defra Website.
Smoke control area enforcement
It is an offence to emit smoke from the chimney of a building that is situated within a designated smoke control area. It is also an offence to deliver an "unauthorised fuel" for use within a designated smoke control area, unless this fuel is to be used on an appliance that has been "exempted" from the controls that generally apply to smoke control areas.
You can burn one of the "authorised" solid smokeless fuels on an open fire or stove and these fuels can be readily ignited in a traditional manner, by using a combination of kindling paper and fire-lighters. Wood is not classed an "authorised" fuel and must only be burnt on an "exempt " appliance that has been tested and found to be compliant with the provisions of the Clean Air Act 1993.
Just because it is called smokeless fuel, doesn't mean that it will not produce smoke and this fuel will still emit harmful particulate matter into the air and your homes.
Amendments to smoke control area enforcement under the Environment Act 2021 came into effect on 1 May 2022. The rules on smoke control areas can be found on the GOV.UK website.
In England you may have to pay a penalty of up to £300 if we decide your chimney releases too much smoke.
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you burn unauthorised fuel without an exempt appliance.
For queries on smoke control please contact us by email to contact@chorley.gov.uk.
Installing wood burning stoves in a smoke control area
Prior to the installation of a wood burning stove in a smoke control area it is essential to ensure that:
- the appliance is a DEFRA "exempt" stove
- the relevant planning permissions have been obtained in respect of the chimney/flue height
- the appliance is installed by a HETAS registered installer or alternatively, the installation inspected by a suitably qualified building inspector to ensure compliance with current building regulations. Further information on building regulations for wood burning stoves is available on the HETAS website.
In addition, further detailed information regarding the installation, use and operation of solid fuel heating appliances can be found on the Solid Fuel Association Website.