New heritage-style lighting for Winchester's conservation areas

Thursday, 24 May 2012

Work is continuing to improve and upgrade streetlights in Winchester as part of Hampshire County Council's £120 million street lighting replacement programme, in partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).

New heritage style lighting in conservation areas

Over 2,000 new lighting columns and lanterns have already been replaced or upgraded in Winchester including in Olivers Battery, Teg Down, Badger Farm and Fulflood. Work will shortly be starting in Winchester city centre, with the new heritage style lighting columns replacing existing lights in conservation areas.

Consultation with local councils and heritage officers has been carried out to determine the locations for installing new heritage style lighting columns. This includes replacing around 150 standard lighting columns with the heritage style ones, as well as 155 existing historic lights.

Councillor Mel Kendal, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said:

"More than 50 roads within the Winchester Conservation Area will see heritage style lights installed as part of the work programme in the city. We are expecting to replace over 300 standard and historic lights with the new heritage style lighting as part of the programme.

"The new lighting has many benefits including lower energy bills, clearer white light directed down onto roads and pavements, as well as reduced carbon emissions. We have been working closely with Winchester City Council and local heritage officers to ensure the historic character of Winchester's old streets is preserved for future generations, but with the added benefit of the latest lighting technology.

"The heritage style lighting is excellent quality and will last for many years to come. However, there is no additional cost as this is included in the overall replacement programme."

About the Street Lighting PFI

The Street Lighting Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) will see the replacement or updating of 145,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards in Hampshire with the latest energy efficient equipment during the five year core investment period. Implementation began in April 2010, starting in Basingstoke, Gosport, Eastleigh, Hedge End, and Winchester. So far more than 27,600 units (columns and lanterns) have been replaced or changed, using the latest in energy saving lamps and dimming controls.

The award-winning project has a wide range of benefits including:

• less light pollution and clearer night skies
• targeted lighting in areas of high crime
• safer streets and a minimum target reduction of 15% of energy consumption over the first five years.

This is due to the replacement of the old 'orange' sodium lamps with energy efficient white 'natural' lighting.

• Street lighting services in Hampshire

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