Dr Will Eadson BA (Hons), MA, PhD

Work in this area includes a British Academy-funded project looking at the capacity and capability of local governments in the UK to act on carbon reduction at a city level; work for DECC on urban heat networks and also on community approaches to domestic energy savings; a number of evaluations of fuel poverty initiatives; work on city-regional attempts to stimulate the low carbon economy; studies of SME attitudes and actions on carbon reduction; and Will's PhD study on the evolution of local and regional climate change policy in England.

Will is also currently leading a programme of work around the future of urban green space, including two research projects for Groundwork UK, focusing respectively on catalysing community engagement with green space and engaging young people in green space and environmental action.

Broader interests on urban sustainability include the politics of urban air quality, inclusive local economic development and sub-national government.

Will is CRESR’s Postgraduate Research Tutor and through this role is also a Deputy Director of the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership Cities, Environment and Liveability pathway. He is also co-editor of People, Place and Policy journal (www.ppp-online.org) Please contact Will for further information about postgraduate study in CRESR or PPP journal.

Research interests

• climate change / energy policy and the politics of low carbon transitions
• urban sustainability (including green infrastructure, air quality and subterranean resource infrastructures)
• low carbon goods and services
• fuel poverty
• sub-national economic governance

PhD supervision

Will would welcome discussion on supervising students around any of the following areas

• economic geographies of low carbon transitions
• socially and spatially just low carbon transitions
• politics of urban air quality
• politics of sustainable urban infrastructure (e.g. heat, water, waste, transport, housing)
• politics of urban green space provision
• politics of smart cities
• engaging small firms in the transition to a low carbon economy

• Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research

2016-18 Tesco Bags of Help Community Grants Scheme evaluation (Director)

2016-18 Groundwork Green Leaders evaluation (Director)

2016-17 RCGP Fuel Poverty Pilot evaluation (Director)

2015-16 City regions, housing and planning study, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (Team member)

2015-17 DECC fuel poverty health booster evaluation, DECC (Director)

2015-17 Wigan AWARM evaluation, Wigan Borough Council (Dierctor – maternity cover)

2015-16 Furniture provision in social housing, NIHE (Manager)

2015-16 FILT warm homes evaluation, Foundations for Independent Living Trust (Team member)

2015 Infrastructure and planning study, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (Team member)

2015 Development of a local carbon economic resilience index, Sheffield Hallam University (Director)

2014-19 Evaluation of HLF’s First World War activity, HLF (Director)

2014 Low Carbon Leicester and Leicestershire research study, Leicester and Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership. (Director)

2014 Evaluation of Big Energy Savings Network, DECC (Manager)

2013-15 Holocaust Memorial Day impact study, HMDT (Manager)

2013-14 Evaluation of the Low Carbon Pioneer Heat Networks programme, DECC (Manager)

2013 Exploring the impact of collective switching on consumers and energy markets, Imagine. (Manager)

2013 - 16 Oldham Warm Homes evaluation, Oldham Council. (Director)

Journal articles

Van Veelen, B., & Eadson, W. (2019). Assembling community energy democracies. Voluntary Sector Review. http://doi.org/10.1332/204080519X15740562779512

Van Veelen, B., Pinker, A., Tingey, M., Taylor Aiken, G., & Eadson, W. (2019). What can energy research bring to social science? Reflections on 5 years of Energy Research & Social Science and beyond. Energy research and social science, 57. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101240

Lindsay, C., Pearson, S., Batty, E., Cullen, A.M., & Eadson, W. (2019). Street-level practice, personalisation and co-production in employability: Insights from local services with lone parents. Social policy and society, 1-12. http://doi.org/10.1017/s1474746419000174

While, A., & Eadson, W. (2019). Households in place: socio-spatial (dis)advantage in energy-carbon restructuring. European Planning Studies, 1626-1645. http://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2019.1595533

Eadson, W., & Foden, M. (2019). State, community and the negotiated construction of energy markets: Community energy policy in England. Geoforum, 100, 21-31. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2019.02.006

Bennett, E., Eadson, W., & Dickinson, J. (2018). PPP Special Issue Editorial: Part I. People, Place and Policy Online, 12 (2), 56-57. http://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.2018.5463926534

Lindsay, C., Pearson, S., Batty, E., Cullen, A.M., & Eadson, W. (2018). Co-production and social innovation in street-level employability services: lessons from services with lone parents in Scotland. International Social Security Review, 71 (4), 33-50. http://doi.org/10.1111/issr.12188

Lindsay, C., Pearson, S., Batty, E., Cullen, A.-.M., & Eadson, W. (2018). Street-level practice and the co-production of third sector-led employability services. Policy & Politics, 46 (4), 571-587. http://doi.org/10.1332/030557317X15120417452025

Holstead, K., Taylor Aiken, G., Eadson, W., & Braunholtz-Speight, T. (2018). Putting community to use in environmental policy making: emerging trends in Scotland and the UK. Geography Compass, 12 (9), e12381. http://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12381

Creamer, E., Eadson, W., van Veelen, B., Pinker, A., Tingey, M., Braunholtz-Speight, T., ... Lacey-Barnacle, M. (2018). Community energy: entanglements of community, state and private sector. Geography compass, 12 (7), e12378. http://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12378

Lindsay, C., Pearson, S., Batty, E., Cullen, A.M., & Eadson, W. (2018). Co-production as a route to employability: Lessons from services with lone parents. Public Administration, 96 (2), 318-332. http://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12408

Eadson, W. (2016). State enrolment and energy-carbon transitions: syndromic experimentation and atomisation in England. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 34 (8), 1612-1631. http://doi.org/10.1177/0263774X16629445

Ambrose, A., Eadson, W., & Pinder, J. (2016). The role of actor-networks in the early stage mobilisation of low carbon heat networks. Energy Policy, 96, 144-152. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.05.042

Ambrose, A., Eadson, W., & Gilbertson, J. (2016). Editorial: PPP special issue – International Perspectives on Fuel Poverty. People, Place and Policy, 10 (1), 1-4. http://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.0010.0001.0001

Crisp, R., Eadson, W., Cole, I., Dayson, C., Escott, K., Fothergill, S., ... Robinson, D. (2015). Election commentaries. People, Place and Policy, 9 (1), 65-89. http://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.0009.0001.0005

Bashir, N., Dayson, C., Eadson, W., & Wells, P. (2013). A warm glow in all parts? : building local cause-affinity as a strategy for promoting charitable giving. People, place and policy online, 7 (3), 139-152. http://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.0007.0003.0003

Eadson, W. (2011). Water and the City: Risk, Resilience and Planning for a Sustainable Future. HOUSING STUDIES, 26 (4), 635-637. http://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2011.568219

Book chapters

Eadson, W. (2013). The evolution of carbon capitalism in the English regions: sustainable mitigation, carbon modernization, and selective carbon economies. In Barnes, P.A., & Hoerver, T.C. (Eds.) Sustainable development and governance in Europe: the evolution of the discourse on sustainability. (pp. 190-204). Routledge

Eadson, W. (2011). Constructions of the carbon city. In The Future of Sustainable Cities: Critical Reflections. (pp. 65-86).

Reports

Eadson, W., & Bull, R. (2020). Citizen engagement in local energy decision-making: literature and policy background. Sheffield Hallam University. http://doi.org/10.7190/cresr.2020.8937358309

Eadson, W., Dobson, J., Shepherd, J., Bridge, E., & Hall, J. (2019). Catalysing People-powered Energy in Yorkshire and the Humber. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. https://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/catalysing-people-powered-energy-y&h.pdf

Eadson, W., Harris, C., Gore, A., & Dobson, J. (2019). Space to thrive: A rapid evidence review of the benefits of parks and green spaces for people and communities. National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Community Fund. https://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/space-to-thrive-2019-evidence-review.pdf

Bennett, E., & Eadson, W. (2017). Private, voluntary and public sector partnership for outdoor space provision: policy lessons from the Bags of Help grant programme evaluation. Sheffield: Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/tesco-bags-of-help-grant-programme.pdf

Batty, E., Dayson, C., Eadson, W., Pearson, S., Sanderson, E., Lindsay, C., & Cullen, A.M. (2017). Making it Work: learning and evaluation contract: Final report. Sheffield: Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/miw-evaluation-final-report.pdf

Eadson, W., & Leather, D. (2017). Fuel Poverty Health Booster Fund evaluation. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/fuel-poverty-health-booster-fund-eval.pdf

Eadson, W., Gore, T., & Povey, L. (2017). Evaluation of Royal College of GPs: Fuel Poverty Pilot. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/eval-royal-college-gps-fuel-poverty-pilot.pdf

Crisp, R., Cole, I., Eadson, W., Ferrari, E., Powell, R., & While, A. (2017). Tackling poverty through housing and planning policy in city regions. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/jrf-tackling-poverty-housing-planning-city-regions.pdf

While, A., Gore, T., Eadson, W., & Crisp, R. (2016). Major development projects: connecting people in poverty to jobs. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. http://www.jrf.org.uk/

Bashir, N., Eadson, W., & Pattison, B. (2016). Warm Homes Oldham evaluation : final report. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/warm-homes-oldham-evaluation-final-report.pdf

Bennett, E., Dayson, C., Eadson, W., Gilbertson, J., & Tod, A. (2016). Warm safe and well: the evaluation of the Warm at Home Programme. Sheffield: Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/warm-safe-well-eval-warm-home-programme.pdf

Ambrose, A., Batty, E., Eadson, W., Hickman, P., & Quinn, G. (2016). Assessment of the need for furniture provision for new NIHE tenants. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/assessment-need-furniture-provision-nihe-tenants.pdf

Ambrose, A., Eadson, W., & Pinder, J. (2015). Ambrose, A., Eadson, W. and Pinder, J. (2015) Low Carbon Pioneer Cities Heat Networks Project: a process evaluation. Department of Energy & Climate Change, London. Department of Energy and Climate Change. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/457057/Pioneer_Cities_Evaluation_27_08.pdf

Ambrose, A., Eadson, W., Hickman, P., & Mccarthy, L. (2015). Tenancy sustainment amongst those aged under 35 : final report. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University. http://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/tenancy-sustainment-aged-under35.pdf

Eadson, W., Green, S., Reeve, K., Robinson, D., & Wilson, I. (2015). Houses into Homes: Final Evaluation Report. (59/2015). Welsh Government Social Research. https://www4.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/houses-homes-final-eval-report.pdf

Eadson, W., Foden, M., & Beatty, C. (2015). Food Bank Provision for families in North Nottinghamshire. Sheffield Hallam University, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research. http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/cresr/sites/shu.ac.uk/files/food-bank-provision-families-north-notts.pdf

Ambrose, A., Eadson, W., & Pinder, J. (2015). Evaluation of the Big Energy Savings Network: Final report. London: Department of Energy and Climate Change. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/405800/BESN_final_reporl.pdf

Gore, T., Eadson, W., Ozdemiroglu, E., Gianferrara, E., & Phang, Z. (2013). Green Infrastructure’s contribution to economic growth: a review. London: eftec.

Theses / Dissertations

Dobson, J. (2017). Reading the future : constructing low-carbon imaginaries in urban institutions. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Wells, P., & Eadson, W. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00004

Dr Will Eadson is a researcher in the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research. His main research interests focus on government policy and the role of local and city-regional organisations in leading the transition to a low carbon economy.