Better lighting needed to support London’s economic recovery

London needs a city-wide lighting strategy to help support the economic recovery and meet the capital’s sustainability goals, according a new report.

The report by think tank Centre for London argues that London government needs to take a serious look at the way the capital is lit.

With no city-wide lighting strategy and only two of London’s 33 local authorities having a local strategy, the report argues that better lighting needs to be given greater priority by London government, developers and landlords.

The report highlights that London’s current lighting approach often overlooks pedestrians and public spaces in favour of a narrow focus on roads.

While all of London’s local authorities have either begun or completed upgrades to their LED street lighting, these lamps primarily light roads for drivers, relegating pavement users to second place. The report also finds that new lighting is often installed on the basis of a widely held misassumption that brighter lighting inevitably equates to safer streets.

In contrast, private lighting sources like shop fronts, office buildings and luminous adverts are poorly regulated, creating unnecessary light pollution. Planning departments also often lack the resources and the expertise to ensure new buildings and retrofits meet recommended lighting levels.

To improve the quality of London’s lighting, Centre for London argues that the mayor of London could support local authorities to develop their own lighting strategies.

‘Lighting can make us feel happy and safe, or scared and unwelcome. It can affect how we move around our local neighbourhood after dark,’ said research manager, Nicolas Bosetti.

‘Better lighting can make you want to stay in a space for longer – whether it’s shopping on the high street, socialising with friends or walking instead of driving to your destination. Yet the way we light our public spaces is often overlooked.

‘The mayor of London should support local authorities to draw up their lighting plans and show their town centre, side streets and housing estates in a better light.’

London’s night czar, Amy Lame added: ‘London’s economy between 6pm – 6am will play a crucial role in our recovery from the pandemic, so it is more important than ever for our outside spaces to be lit effectively and sustainably.

‘I’m encouraged to see the Centre for London placing such importance on recommendations from the Mayor’s night time commission to improve lighting at night, and the Mayor’s new London Plan underlines his commitment to ensuring Londoners and visitors can safely enjoy the best city in the world after dark.’