Islington Council's Executive has agreed a new approach for the future of its public lighting service, aiming to ensure the successful completion of the current Private Finance Initiative (PFI) agreement and optimise future service delivery.
At a meeting on Thursday, January 22, 2026, the Executive agreed to establish a unified Term Maintenance Contract (TMC) in two lots: one for Highways and Traffic, and another for Lighting. This new contract is set to commence on July 2, 2028, following the expiry of the existing PFI agreement.
The council also agreed that the future public lighting service will adhere to best practice objectives for lighting design, conforming to British Standard BS 5489-1:2020, and will take into account the guidance set out in the Department for Transport's Manual for Streets.
To facilitate this transition, the Corporate Director of Environment & Climate Change has been delegated authority to extend the current Islington Highways Term Service Contract for one year, from June 30, 2027, to July 1, 2028. This extension will align with the PFI expiry date and support the integrated procurement process for the new services.
Furthermore, a Final Survey of public lighting infrastructure and the contractor's Management Information Database will be conducted in the second and third quarters of the 2026/2027 financial year. This survey will assess the condition of lighting columns and the accuracy of the database, ensuring a smooth handover of assets and responsibilities.