At the end of September, Larkhaven finished replacing 21,400 street lights with energy-efficient LED lanterns. The upgrade has cut the electricity used to light the city’s streets by 52%, and it will save around £1.5 million a year on energy bills.
The £8.6 million programme started in April 2025. It was paid for by borrowing that will be repaid from the energy savings, so it will pay for itself in under six years.
The difference in numbers
| Each year | Old lights | New LED lights |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity used | 9.8 million kWh | 4.7 million kWh |
| Energy bill | £2.9 million | £1.4 million |
| Carbon emissions | 1,960 tonnes | 940 tonnes |
What’s changed on your street
- Clearer light. White LED light makes colours easier to see, which helps people feel safer and helps drivers spot pedestrians and cyclists.
- Less glare. The new lanterns point light down onto the road and pavement, not into bedroom windows or the night sky.
- Dimming late at night. On residential streets, lights dim by 30% between midnight and 05:30. Main roads, crossings and shopping streets stay at full brightness.
- Faster repairs. Each lantern reports faults automatically, so we often know about a problem before you do.
This is one of the biggest single cuts to our carbon emissions we’ve ever made, and it’s saving money we can spend on frontline services. Better street lighting also makes the city feel safer after dark.
Deputy Mayor Kwame Asante
What’s next
The remaining 1,500 heritage lanterns in the Old Town will be converted next year, using LED units designed to keep their historic look. A report on the completed programme goes to the Transport and Environment Committee on 8 October.
Report a fault
If a street light is out, flickering or on during the day, report it online. We fix street lights within 7 days. If a lamp post has been damaged and is dangerous, call 01632 960 000, or 01632 960 999 out of hours.
