Street lighting design is about far more than illuminating a road — it is the careful design of lighting so that people can travel safely, day or night. A well-designed scheme never replicates daylight, but it does provide the right level, distribution and quality of light for road users to see the hazards, obstacles and other users that matter most.
Lighting design is a specialist area of the construction industry, requiring a detailed understanding of photometrics, energy efficiency, column and luminaire selection, and compliance with British and European lighting standards, alongside a practical knowledge of how a scheme will actually be built, maintained and adopted.
Why street lighting matters
A well-designed lighting scheme plays a critical role in:
- Reducing the risk of night-time accidents
- Assisting in the protection of buildings and property, by discouraging vandalism
- Discouraging crime
- Creating a secure environment for habitation and movement after dark
Get it wrong, and a scheme can leave dark spots, glare, or excessive energy costs. Get it right, and it quietly supports safety, security and place-making without drawing attention to itself.
Our service
MERAKI provides a complete lighting design service, from initial concept through to detailed design and construction support, including:
- Lighting design in accordance with current British Standards and industry best practice
- Photometric design and lighting level calculations to suit the class of road, footway or area
- Column, bracket and luminaire selection, including energy-efficient LED solutions
- Design for new-build, redevelopment and retrofit/upgrade schemes
- Support through planning, technical approval and adoption processes
We work on schemes of every scale, from single residential cul-de-sacs to major trunk road improvements, tailoring the design approach to suit the scheme, the client and the site.
Our experience
MERAKI's consultants bring over 30 years' experience in street lighting design, having worked on schemes ranging from small housing estates to major trunk road improvements.
We provide a complete lighting design service to other organisations across the construction industry. Clients currently include:
- Housing developers
- Property developers
Local authorities, through framework consultants
