9.2 Location of streetlights

Lighting should be located to provide maximum lighting where it is most needed. Typically, this includes junctions, roundabouts, speed controls and crossing points to ensure the safety of pedestrians.

Streetlights should be placed to leave a minimum of 2 metre of pavement clear, but this can be reduced to an absolute minimum of 1.5m if limited space is available. Streetlights can also be fixed onto buildings to prevent street clutter, this is particularly appropriate on high streets (Street Type 2) or tertiary streets such as alleys or mews (Street Type 5).

Lighting must not be placed where they may obstruct pedestrians or cyclists. When positioned adjacent to cycle paths there must be a minimum set back of 0.5 metre to avoid obstruction to handlebars as per ILP TR23 Lighting for Cycle Tracks. Care must be taken to avoid annoyance being caused by stray light (see the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) Guidance Notes) [Reference 39].

Locating a column in line with a party boundary, combined with the use of modern optics, may reduce or prevent nuisance from stray light. In residential areas the positioning of lighting close to the gable centres of properties should reduce light interference, but all sites should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

References

• Reference 39: https://theilp.org.uk/resources/#guidance-notes (Return to content for reference 39).