Oxford City Council is set to implement a ban on gas hobs and boilers in new homes starting from 2025, as part of its environmental sustainability efforts.
The city aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, citing the move as a crucial step in addressing the "existential threat of climate change." The proposed regulations specify that appliances using fossil fuels for heating and cooking will be prohibited in new homes, with limited exceptions.
Oxford's Labour Council is also pushing to advance its 2036 ban on gas and oil in new builds. However, the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has criticized the divergence from the national net-zero timetable, urging collaborative efforts to avoid delays and additional costs. Steve Turner, executive director at the HBF, emphasized the industry's commitment to the government's plan and ongoing collaboration with stakeholders.
In September, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak postponed green targets, including the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales, pushing the deadline back by five years to 2035. Additionally, approximately one-fifth of all households will benefit from an exemption, sparing them from the requirement to replace their gas boilers with heat pumps.
Sunak also announced the abandonment of what he termed 'heavy-handed' measures, such as a proposed increase in recycling that could have resulted in each home having seven bins, as well as plans for taxes on meat and flying, and new regulations on car-sharing journeys. Critics had previously cast doubts on the likelihood of these measures ever being implemented.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the delay in implementing net zero policies was not a short-term decision aimed at gaining electoral favor in the next general election. Although there is no explicit ban on gas hobs in the UK, an increasing number of new homes will not be connected to the country's gas grid. A report also revealed that gas cookers can introduce air pollution into kitchens, surpassing recommended safe levels. Monitoring equipment set up in over 280 homes across several countries, including the UK, found that more than half of homes using gas hobs breached the World Health Organization's recommended maximum level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) once a week.
Oxford is not the only city planning to ban gas hobs; New York is also aiming to phase them out by 2026. New York is currently seeking public input on the Local Plan 2040, which mandates all new developments to be net zero in operation and requires developments with 10 or more homes to allocate at least 40 percent of them as affordable housing. The plan also includes provisions for planting more trees, hedges, and greenery in new housing developments. Councillor Louise Upton stated that the Local Plan 2040 aims to strike the right balance in addressing the housing crisis and climate emergency, supporting communities and residents, and making Oxford a better place for everyone.
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