Smoke Control Areas
Under the Clean Air Act 1993 local authorities may declare the whole or part of their district to be a smoke control area (SCA).
These are areas of the District within which it is an offence to emit smoke from the chimney of a building. The name ‘Smokeless Zone’ is also often used to describe these areas.
It is an offence to emit smoke from a chimney of a building, from a furnace or from any fixed boiler if located in a designated smoke control area. It is also an offence to acquire an 'unauthorised fuel' for use within a smoke control area unless it is used in an 'exempt' appliance ('exempted' from the controls which generally apply in the smoke control area). UK Air Smoke Control Area Interactive Map. The current maximum level of fine can be up to £1,000 for each offence.
The areas within North Kesteven which have been declared smoke control areas are in North Hykeham and can be seen on the map.
If you want to know if you live in a Smoke Control Area (SCA), please contact Environmental Services. A map showing the SCAs within North Kesteven is also available in the downloads tab.
Garden bonfires are not included in the smoke control exemption, and therefore bonfires are still permitted in these areas.
Authorised fuels
Authorised fuels are fuels which are authorised by Statutory Instruments (Regulations) made under the Clean Air Act 1993 or Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. These include inherently smokeless fuels such as gas, electricity and anthracite together with specified brands of manufactured solid smokeless fuels. These fuels have passed tests to confirm that they are capable of burning in an open fireplace without producing smoke.
Exempt appliances
Exempt appliances are appliances (ovens, wood burners and stoves) which have been exempted by Statutory Instruments (Orders) under the Clean Air Act 1993 or Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. These have passed tests to confirm that they are capable of burning an unauthorised or inherently smoky solid fuel without emitting smoke.
If you live in a Smoke Control Area, you must not emit smoke from a chimney unless it is from an exempt appliance. To learn more about exempt appliances, please visit the GOV.UK website.
Advice on open fires and wood-burning stoves
Normally Planning / Building Control permission is not required for a wood burning stove (although you should check this especially if you’re having any significant building works or you’re in a listed building), but have it installed by a competent person who will issue you with a HETAS / NAPIT compliant certificate once the works are complete.
The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs has a practical guide on open fires and wood-burning stoves and how to reduce the environmental and health impacts these cause.
Addresses in Smoke Control Areas
Area 1
- Bure Close
- Chelmer Close
- Colne Close
- Constance Avenue
- Glenbank Close
- Leyburn Road
- Newark Road
- Redcar Close
- Richmond Close
- Thirsk Drive
- Waverly Avenue
- Wetherby Crescent
Area 2
- Aldernay Close
- Avon Close
- Belton Park Drive
- Burghley Park Close
- Coniston Drive
- Conway Drive
- Cromer Close
- Dart Avenue
- Derwent Close
- Eddystone Drive
- Elizabeth Avenue
- Esthwaite Close
- Fen Lane
- Hartland Avenue
- Highfield Terrace
- Hyde Park Close
- Jubilee Close
- Kinder Avenue
- Ladybower Close
- Lincoln Road (Even)
- Lynmouth Close
- Medway Crescent
- Oulton Close
- Pendine Close
- Philip Court
- Regents Park Close
- School Lane (part)
- Skerries Close
- Tamar Way
- Thirlmere Close
- Trevose Drive
- Tyne Close
- Ullswater Close
- Water Lane (part)
- Windermere Avenue
- Windsor Park Close
- Wrexham Close