Street lighting design

The council requires a suitable system of street lighting on all adoptable roads.

The council’s design service

The Street Lighting team provides the following services:

  • A lighting design for all adoptable roads following technical approval of the highway works. The cost of this lighting design is included within the Section 38/Section 278 administration and inspection fee. This design will be requested on the developer’s behalf at the appropriate stage and the street lighting team will not need to be contacted directly.
  • A pre-technical approval lighting design for all adoptable roads. This earlier design service is subject to an additional separate charge. Note: this is an optional service; there is no reduction in the administration and inspection fee.  This is an optional service and the street lighting team will need to be contacted directly. The street lighting design should then be submitted as part of any Section 38/Section 278 submission. 

Generally, these services help to ensure compliance with the council’s requirements and minimises the risk of delay to the adoption process. The council will also accept third party designs, but they need to be submitted, reviewed and approved as part of the technical appraisal process.

Compliance

Whether designed by the council or not, all street lighting layouts must comply with BS 5489 Code of Practice for road lighting and obtain technical approval from the council. This is important for both road safety and to help promote personal safety and minimise crime opportunities. 

It is important that the lighting layout is considered at the same time as the street layout. To encourage pedestrians to use a route and to feel safe, it is important that lighting levels are maintained at the same standard along a route, whether a route is adopted or not. When preparing development proposals, the purpose of the lighting, its scale and the proposed width of the street and height of any buildings should be considered.

Erecting signs and other attachments to lighting columns

If erection of any apparatus over, along or across the highway is being considered, an application for a licence under Section 178 of the Highways Act 1980 will be required. 

Any proposals to attach temporary or permanent signage to highway lighting columns must follow the council’s “Guidance notes for the erection of permanent or temporary attachments to highway lighting columns” and application process. Applications must be received by the council at least 8 weeks in advance of proposed works.

Applications should be for a single, temporary sign per column that are designed to withstand wind loads.

Need further information?
Contact
Development Approvals