Waltham Forest is investing £4 million in upgrading its street lighting to energy-efficient LEDs, a move projected to significantly reduce the borough's carbon footprint and energy costs. The investment follows a doubling of energy costs in 2022 and 2023 and aims to build on the progress already made in reducing carbon emissions from street lighting by over 70% in the past decade.
The Climate Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, to discuss the borough's street lighting and review the forward plan for the ongoing municipal year. According to the report pack, street lighting accounts for 55% of the total carbon emissions across the council estate, making it the biggest source of carbon reduction.
The £4 million investment is being used to replace older concrete columns and lanterns with energy-efficient LED equivalents. The council is mid-way through the programme but has already achieved an 18% reduction in energy consumption and will achieve a further reduction of 300 tonnes of carbon emitted per year once completed. An analysis in 2023 identified 16,692 luminaires on the network, with 5,699 already converted to LED. The council anticipates reducing the average wattage per installation from 121W to 68W, resulting in a 43.8% energy reduction.
The street lighting investment programme is divided into two phases. Phase 1, completed in 2024/25, involved replacing 155 concrete columns. Phase 2, due for completion by March 2027, includes structurally testing 2,700 high-energy-use lamp columns and replacing lanterns with energy-efficient LED equivalents. According to the Street Lighting report, this phase is projected to deliver an annual energy cost reduction of £300,000, representing a 16% decrease from current energy costs.