PhD project summary:
Air pollution and lack of physical activity are two of the biggest health risks facing children in London today. To help make neighbourhoods safer and healthier, local councils have introduced Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs). These are areas where through-traffic is restricted, with the aim of making streets quieter, cleaner, and safer for walking and cycling.
We still do not know enough about how they really affect children’s health-especially for those growing up in more disadvantaged parts of London. In earlier research interviews about London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), parents told us they were most concerned about what was happening on their own local streets, and they often wanted to talk about LTNs.
This PhD project will use data from the CHILL study (Children’s Health in Luton and London), which has followed 3414 children to measure their physical activity, air pollution exposure, mental and physical health. By combining CHILL data with maps showing where LTNs are located, we can test whether living in or near an LTN makes a difference to children’s health, behaviour, and wellbeing.
The research will use mapping and air pollution data to study changes in NO₂ (a harmful pollutant), mental and physical health (study 1),and activity behaviours (study 2). It will also include community led focus groups with families in central London to understand people’s experiences and views of LTNs in their communities (study 3). Combined, these will answer the question:
Do Low Traffic Neighbourhoods improve children’s health and wellbeing, and how do families experience these changes in their everyday lives?
The project is a partnership between the Greater London Authority, Queen Mary University, London, Cambridge university, and Tower Hamlets local authority supported by NIHR’s Health Determinants Research Collaboration.
The results will help policymakers understand which children benefit most, whether there are any unintended effects (like traffic moving to other roads), and what factors make LTNs more or less successful.
By providing strong, real-world evidence, this project will help London and other cities design fairer, healthier, and more child-friendly environments.
Supervisor(s):
Chris Griffiths: c.j.griffiths@qmul.ac.uk
James Scales: j.scales@qmul.ac.uk
CASE non-academic partner: Greater London Authority: https://www.london.gov.uk/
LISS Institution: Queen Mary University of London, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Wolfson Institute for Population Health
PhD Programme: PhD in Population Health
Full-time / Part-time: Full-time
1+3.5 or +3.5 studentship: +3.5
Fee Eligibility: Home‑eligible applicants only (UKRI eligibility guidance)
How to apply:
To apply, please complete and return the documents below to the project supervisor(s) directly:
- LISS DTP CASE application form
- Academic transcripts
- References
- Additional information as stipulated in the CASE project listing
Additionally, all applicants must complete:
- LISS DTP Diversity Monitoring Form (online)
Closing date for applications: 28th February 2026
Interviews date: Week of 16th March 2026