Plan to ban fossil fuel appliances in new homes in Oxford from 2025

Oxford City Council has unveiled plans to ban gas hobs and boilers in all new homes starting in 2025, a decade earlier than the UK government’s 2035 target. The move is part of the Labour-led council’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 and tackle climate change.

The ban will affect an estimated 9600 new homes in the pipeline, in which builders will be barred from installing fossil fuel appliances for heating and cooking. It will also apply to most commercial developments, with a few exceptions.

The Home Builders Federation has struck out against the council, saying deviating from the national timetable could cause delays and higher costs. Executive director Steve Turner said the industry is currently working to meet the government’s 2035 target.

“The industry is committed to the government’s very challenging agenda to make new homes even more efficient and is working with stakeholders to deliver it. We need all parties, including central and local government, to work together and avoid diverging off the developing plan, which will lead to unnecessary delays and additional costs.”

Under Oxford City Council’s proposal, developers will have to pay into council climate funds if they unable to install electric or other zero-carbon alternatives like heat pumps. But the council stressed this would be a last resort.

The council’s plans exceed UK targets, after PM Rishi Sunak delayed a number of green goals by a decade to 2035, including the ban on new gas boilers and petrol/diesel vehicles.