Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) face some of the most severe challenges of fuel poverty in the Midlands. In Leicester city, 19.8% of households are in fuel poverty, well above the national average of 11.4%. In the wider county, nearly 38,000 residents are affected with North West Leicestershire (14.1%), Melton (14.0%), and Charnwood (12.8%) recording some of the highest rates in the region.
Fuel poverty contributes to cold, damp, and mouldy homes, which in turn are linked to 10% of excess winter deaths in Leicester and serious health issues such as asthma and bronchitis, particularly for children, older people, and those with pre-existing conditions.
The problem is not only financial but social: vulnerable households especially isolated older residents, low-income families, and rural communities are most at risk of high energy costs and poor housing conditions. Addressing this challenge is a priority for Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council as part of their Net Zero and public health strategies.
This PhD project aims to co-design and pilot affordable, community-led retrofit solutions that can make a measurable difference to households most affected by fuel poverty. Working with local residents, Midland Heart, the Leicestershire Rural Housing Group, and the County Council’s Net Zero team, the project will develop and test innovative but practical measures, including recycled-waste insulated panels and advanced meta surface glazing.
A total of 30 households across Leicester, North West Leicestershire, and Melton will participate in pilot project. The research will capture both technical outcomes such as reductions in energy bills and improved indoor comfort and social outcomes, including residents’ health, wellbeing, and changes in household energy practices.
By combining sustainable materials science with participatory social research, this project will generate practical solutions, long-term community benefits, and a replicable model for tackling fuel poverty in other regions.
This project has been co-created with and is supported by researchers from 冈本视频, Loughborough University and partners at Leicestershire County Council. The successful candidate for this project will be enrolled at 冈本视频.
Project Aims:
- Design and co-create affordable retrofit solutions with households in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, focusing on older and fuel-inefficient homes, using recycled insulation materials and advanced meta surface glazing.
- Evaluate both technical and social outcomes of retrofits, measuring impacts on energy efficiency, heating costs, damp and mould reduction, and improvements in health and wellbeing.
- Investigate behavioural, cultural, and structural factors that influence how different communities including isolated rural households, deprived estate communities, and low-income private renters adopt and sustain retrofit practices.
- Develop a scalable framework for community-led retrofitting, embedding circular economy principles and producing actionable guidance for local authorities, housing associations, and civic organisations.
- Contribute to policy and practice change by generating evidence that supports Net Zero strategies, addresses health inequalities, and strengthens community resilience in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.
Estimated thesis submission: