Press release

Which? reveals locations most in need of insulation upgrades as it calls for support for vulnerable households

5 min read
Press Team

New research from Which? has revealed the UK locations in greatest need of insulation upgrades as it calls for the government to provide better support for households living in fuel poverty and in urgent need of improved insulation.

With energy prices having doubled over the last two years and the need to take action on climate change increasing exponentially, home energy efficiency has become a critical issue for households - yet current insulation levels fall worryingly short of where they need to be. 

The consumer champion is launching a new tool that assesses need for insulation in each of the UK’s 650 political constituencies, scoring each area between one and 10 - a 10 being given to areas most in need of insulation.  

Which?’s ‘priority places for insulation’ index identifies needs based on different aspects of insulation – roof, floor and wall – as well as property age and type alongside economic, social and health factors.

Poorly insulated homes have a particularly damaging impact on households that are on low incomes and struggle to meet energy bill costs, as well as households that have health conditions – such as respiratory diseases – affected by cold, or if the residents are older. 

The majority of the constituencies which have the most need for insulation are in the North West and North East of England, Yorkshire and Humberside, the Welsh Valleys, South Scotland, West Belfast and Derry/Londonderry - but areas further south and London are also impacted. 

The five constituencies most in need in England are Pendle, Lancashire; Birmingham Hodge Hill, Warwickshire;  Louth and Horncastle, Lincolnshire; Burnley, Lancashire; and Scarborough and Whitby, North Yorkshire – all score a maximum 10 on the insulation priority scale. 

Properties in these areas tend to have very poor levels of wall, roof and floor insulation, as well as high proportions of older people with very high prevalence of health conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and high levels of fuel poverty.

In Wales, Rhondda is the area most in need, in Scotland Na h-Eileanan an Iar is the highest priority and Belfast West is most in need in Northern Ireland. 

While the priority areas are predominantly located in northern and coastal regions, Which? also identified areas in the south of the UK such as Torridge and West Devon in Devon, St Ives in Cornwall, New Forest West in Dorset and North Norfolk in Norfolk - highlighting that this is a national issue. 

Two big issues in these areas are a higher proportion of vulnerable people over the age of 65 or suffering from health conditions that require warmer homes, and properties in these areas tend to be older, which can mean they are more prone to cold and damp. 

London constituencies are middle-ranging in terms of priority, but there are areas with high insulation needs when looking at specific insulation factors. For example, Leyton and Wanstead, Walthamstow and Tottenham all scored 10 for how much they need wall and roof insulation as well as the age of properties in the area. It is also worth noting that renters cannot retrofit the homes they live in and London has more private renters compared to the rest of England.

Which? also considered supply alongside need and looked at how many certified installers there are per 100,000 residents in different areas. In some priority areas - such as Copeland and Workington in Cumbria - Which? found no local suppliers provide relevant installation services. In general, rural areas tend to lack local installers, compared to urban areas.  

Which? is now calling for the government to ensure households living in fuel poverty can access insulation support. There are existing grants for improving the energy efficiency of homes which are predominantly focused on households in receipt of benefits, but can also include other low income households or households with relevant health conditions. However the uptake of recent schemes has been disappointing. 

The government needs to consider the criteria for which insulation measures can be delivered under these schemes and support local authorities and energy providers to identify all households that are eligible for funding. Which? wants assurances that this support reaches all fuel poor households.

However, insulation improvements are needed nationwide, not just in priority areas. To feel confident in getting their homes insulated, households need access to information and advice about their home’s insulation needs, help finding qualified and reliable installers, and, depending on their needs, financial support from governments or financial products from banks to help with the high upfront costs.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: 

“High energy bills and keeping warm are major issues for people across the UK, and both are exacerbated by poor insulation. Which?’s latest research has helped identify the areas most in need of urgent support. 

“The government must ensure support and funding reaches fuel poor and vulnerable households most at risk from a lack of insulation in their homes, and that households have access to reliable  installers and the information and advice they need to support them through some of the complex decisions involved in insulating a home.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  • Link to ‘’priority places for insulation’ tool (not to be shared more widely ahead of 00:01 Wednesday 15th November embargo): https://insulation.which.co.uk/
  • Copies of Which?’s ‘priority places for insulation’ report are available on request.
  • Direct comparisons cannot be made between areas in different nations as not all the same data is available for each nation.

Additional findings

  • London (67%) and the South of East England (23%) have the most neighbourhoods likely to have poor wall, loft, and floor insulation levels but lower levels of fuel poverty, meaning residents are more likely to be able to self-fund installation.

About Which?

Which? is the UK’s consumer champion, here to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone. Our research gets to the heart of consumer issues, our advice is impartial, and our rigorous product tests lead to expert recommendations. We’re the independent consumer voice that influences politicians and lawmakers, investigates, holds businesses to account and makes change happen. As an organisation we’re not for profit and all for making consumers more powerful.

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