Somerset Council is making a substantial investment of more than £5.8 million to convert its existing street lights to energy-efficient LED technology. This initiative aims to significantly reduce the council’s annual energy expenses, which currently exceed £5 million.
The council manages over 60,000 lighting assets across Somerset, including street lights, illuminated signs, bollards, and Belisha beacons. Nearly 70% of these have already been upgraded to LED, leaving around 30% still relying on older, less efficient lighting systems that are increasingly hard to maintain due to discontinuation of parts and outdated infrastructure.
To address this, Somerset Council plans to allocate substantial funding within the next 12 months to upgrade the remaining assets. This project is expected to lower the annual energy bill by close to £2 million by 2028, contributing to long-term budget savings and environmental benefits.
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Of the total 60,013 lighting assets, 52,948 are street lights, while the rest comprise 4,968 illuminated signs, 1,677 illuminated bollards, and 420 Belisha beacons or similar crossing lights. So far, 42,003 assets—about 70%—have already been converted to LED.
The council’s upcoming budget, set for approval in late February, includes plans to cut energy costs by £1.1 million in the next financial year. Achieving these savings hinges on committing to the necessary funding promptly in order to begin procurement and installation processes by April.
Matthew Scriven, Head of Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, emphasized the urgency, stating, “We currently spend approximately £5.016 million on energy for street lighting and related assets. By upgrading to LED lanterns, this cost is projected to drop to £3.116 million within two years. A decision to order materials by mid-January is critical to mobilize installations starting in April. Every month of delay could reduce anticipated savings by about £91,226.”
Funding for this upgrade will be managed through the council’s existing highways budget, with £3.118 million drawn from the current financial year’s capital grant and an additional £2.75 million from the 2026/27 grant. This approach means the council can undertake the project without needing extra borrowing.
By April 2027, the council anticipates saving £1.1 million on energy costs, with additional savings of £800,000 expected by April 2028. The full council will review and debate the proposed budget, including these initiatives, on February 25 in Bridgwater.