Project Centre helped the London Borough of Newham, which manages about 17,000 streetlights, trial adaptive lighting to save energy, cut carbon emissions and reduce costs while keeping streets safe and welcoming.
A community-led approach to smarter, safer street lighting
We ran an adaptive lighting trial in selected areas of Newham, adjusting streetlight brightness based on local activity, time of night, and road type. As part of these studies, Project Centre undertook software modelling and on-site lux measurements to establish benchmark lighting levels.
We also designed a bespoke adaptive lighting strategy for Newham to support informed policy decisions. Safety and visibility for all road users stayed a priority, with risk assessments to keep lighting within national standards.
Project Centre worked closely with the community through surveys and workshops, focusing on groups more likely to feel unsafe at night. Women and girls highlighted areas they felt were unsafe, ensuring local insight shaped the trial.
Outcome
Our resulting report was approved by the Council Cabinet for implementation in September 2024. The trial showed clear sustainability benefits:
- Energy use and carbon emissions fell by around 30% in trial areas, with borough-wide savings projected at over 400 tonnes of COâ‚‚ a year.
- Lower light pollution also helps protect local wildlife.
- Residents noticed no drop in safety or visibility, showing councils can save energy and costs without affecting community wellbeing.
“This scheme highlights theimportance of lighting in maintaining public safety and preventing crime. Councils must actresponsibly when consideringreductions to such a vital service.”
–Kunle Oyesanya, Senior Street
Lighting Engineer, Newham
