Cornwall Council has completed a major upgrade of heritage street lighting across the county, installing new LED lanterns in locations including Penzance, St Ives, Charlestown Harbour, and Penryn.
The project forms part of an £18.5 million programme to modernise Cornwall’s street lighting infrastructure, replacing ageing equipment with LED technology to improve energy efficiency, enhance operational control, and support long-term reliability.
The wider programme was driven by a combination of factors, including difficulties sourcing replacement components for existing systems, the end of life of the council’s central management system (CMS), and the need to reduce energy consumption as part of Cornwall’s carbon reduction objectives.
Heritage locations required a tailored approach, with the council seeking to retain the character of historic streets, harbours, and promenades whilst improving lighting performance.
“The move to LED supports Cornwall Council’s aspiration to become carbon neutral by 2030,” says Mandy Langdon, Project Manager at Cornwall Council. “It allows us to reduce energy consumption and gives us greater flexibility through dimming and part-night operation.”
British LED lighting manufacturer Acrospire supplied a range of heritage lanterns for the project, including the Muirfield, Birkdale, and Cornet ranges, which were selected as replacements for existing fittings.
LED upgrade aligns efficiency and heritage character
All lanterns were specified with a 3000K colour temperature to provide a warm lighting appearance, suited to heritage environments, while maintaining visibility and public safety.
Different power outputs, ranging from 14W to 64W, were used to meet the varying requirements of locations across the county. Most lanterns were finished in ‘jet black’, with selected installations supplied in ‘moss green’ or ‘red wine’ to complement local surroundings.
Given Cornwall’s coastal environment, marine-grade finishes were specified to help protect the lanterns from corrosion caused by salt air exposure.
The new lighting supports dimming and part-night operation, enabling the council to reduce energy use when appropriate. Dark Sky-compliant lanterns were also installed where possible to help minimise light pollution.
The installation required adaptations to accommodate a mix of existing column sizes and mounting arrangements. Acrospire supplied adaptor sleeves and bracket adaptors to ensure compatibility with existing infrastructure and minimise disruption during deployment.
“We’ve been working with Acrospire for a few years now and have developed a great working relationship,” continues Mandy. “They were keen to keep things simple when it came to ordering and provided designs with a very short turnaround, which helped us stay on track with the timeframe we had.
“They’ve also supported us in finding solutions to make our varied existing infrastructure work with the new lanterns, supplying adaptors and additional parts quickly where needed.
“We consulted with them early in the planning stages around CMS compatibility, and that input was really valuable in helping us make the right decisions for the project.”
Delivered in partnership with Enerveo, the scheme sought to provide a more efficient and resilient street lighting network whilst preserving the appearance of Cornwall’s historic and coastal locations.
According to the council, the upgrade is expected to reduce maintenance requirements, lower energy consumption, and support long-term asset management across the county.
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