Thorn Lighting, a global supplier of outdoor and indoor luminaires and integrated controls, has had its Thor lanterns and bespoke gobo projectors selected to help revitalise Spennymoor Market Place and Consett Middle Street, aiming to draw more visitors, support local businesses, and promote community pride.
Town centre regeneration is essential for boosting local economies and fostering vibrant communities. In line with its ongoing county-wide improvement efforts, Durham County Council has delivered projects to transform the town centres of Spennymoor and Consett. The council’s vision is to create spaces that attract more shoppers, businesses, and community gatherings.
Lighting can dramatically change how a space is perceived, especially in town centres. Thorn’s Thor lanterns, combined with gobo projectors mounted on bespoke columns, aim to provide a blend of aesthetic appeal and functionality, allowing for tailored lighting themes that change with the seasons and significant events. The adaptive lighting has helped to create welcoming hubs in Spennymoor Market Place and Consett Middle Street, where people can gather for local events like Christmas festivities and Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
The lanterns are LED, smart urban lanterns, offering compatibility with existing management control systems via ZHAGA sockets. Paul Gleadow, Durham County Council’s Street Lighting and Operational Support Manager, says, “As part of our ongoing regeneration of County Durham’s towns and villages, we wanted to create spaces that were not only welcoming and functional but also felt unique to the community. This partnership has allowed us to commemorate key events in a way which engages with residents, creating a strong sense of pride and belonging. Seeing people enjoy these areas since we have made these enhancements has been incredibly rewarding.”
Implementing the schemes in Spennymoor and Consett required precision to ensure the lighting solution fitted both the aesthetic and functional needs of the spaces. In Spennymoor, aligning the gobo projections to cover the intended floor space necessitated multiple site visits and careful adjustments to the positioning and angles of the columns. For Consett, illuminating specific building facades meant careful spacing and placement to achieve consistent coverage without overpowering the area.
Through on-site adjustments, the team was able to optimise the positioning of the columns and projectors, ensuring the lighting scenes landed where intended. The final arrangement enables residents to enjoy the vibrant gobo scenes, which draw attention without distracting from the area’s natural beauty.
The projects in Spennymoor and Consett demonstrate how lighting can help revitalise a community. Residents have reportedly responded enthusiastically, with many expressing appreciation for the attention to detail and the focus on creating a space that reflects the town’s character. As footfall increases, the council’s investment in a sustainable, community-focused lighting solution is expected to benefit local businesses and foster an enduring sense of pride.
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