3.7 Street lighting
Most new streets will include street lighting. Detailed guidance for adoptable streets is provided in the Cheshire West and Chester Specification for Street Lighting, but the key requirements for new streets are set out below. Some of these requirements will also apply to private streets and spaces.
General Principles
All new street lighting on adopted streets must comply with the requirements of the Cheshire West and Chester Specification for Street Lighting.
All new adopted streets, and adopted walking and cycling links, should be lit. The only exception is for small developments in rural areas and adjoining existing unlit streets.
All street lighting, including on private streets, must comply with the requirements set out in Section 2.5 – Nature – Lighting and protecting dark skies. These requirements relate to light pollution and the impact on biodiversity and nature.
Developers must allow for lighting areas outside of the ‘red line’ as part of Section 106 and Section 278 related works (e.g. junction improvements). Exact requirements will be agreed with the Council and early engagement is recommended.
Lighting locations and methods
Lighting will typically be provided using column mounted luminaires, but these can occasionally be wall mounted if circumstances require it.
Lighting columns must be located a minimum of 800mm from the edge of carriageway for streets with a design speed of up to 20mph. For higher speeds refer to the Lighting Specification.
Choice of columns and luminaires
Lighting impacts the character of the street and the wider place. For most new streets, the lighting will be determined by the Street Typology and the Area Type so a matrix of permissible column and luminaire choices has been developed. When plugging into existing places, lighting must respect the character and context of the surrounding streets.
Lighting of new and existing streets within Chester City Centre must be in line with the Chester Public Realm Design Guide: Section 5opens new window, and any associated requirements set out in the Lighting Specification.
New lighting columns within 50m of existing heritage lighting and within conservation areas must be of a heritage type, as per the Lighting Specification. These must match, as close as possible, the existing heritage columns and luminaires, if present.
For all new adoptable streets, lighting columns and luminaires should be in accordance with the table set out below, based on Street Typology and Area Type. This sets the minimum specification for lighting and does not preclude a higher specification. Any deviation from this will require written permission from the responsible officers.
A higher specification of lighting column could be proposed for any street and will generally be accepted providing that a suitable commuted sum is paid for long term maintenance and replacement.
The below table sets out the required column and luminaire types which must be used for each street type and area type. The style of the column and luminaire will be based on the latest version of the Cheshire West and Chester Specification for Street Lighting. Luminaires will be one of the following styles:
- Standard – A standard lantern unit. E.g. Philips Lumistreet
- Heritage – A heritage style lantern unit, either:
- Teardrop style. E.g. DW Windsor Ely
- Lantern style. E.g. DW Windsor Knightsbridge or CU Phosco P109 These products are examples only, refer to the latest specification for requirements.
Fig 4.92: Required column and luminaire by area types
Type 1.A – Principal Street-Avenue
- Heritage 8-12m ‘Teardrop’ style
- Heritage 8-12m ‘Teardrop’ style
- Heritage 8-12m ‘Teardrop’ style
- Heritage 8-12m ‘Teardrop’ style
- Heritage 8-12m ‘Teardrop’ style
Type 1.B - High Street
- Heritage 8-12m ‘Teardrop’ style
- Heritage 8-12m ‘Teardrop’ style
- Heritage 8-12m ‘Teardrop’ style
- Heritage 8-12m ‘Teardrop’ style
Type 1.C – High Street (traffic free / low traffic)
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Teardrop’ style
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Teardrop’ style
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Teardrop’ style
- Standard Wall mounted
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Lantern’ style
Type 2 – Residential Streets
- Standard 6m
- Standard 6m
- Heritage 6m
Type 3.A - Mews
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Lantern’ style
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Lantern’ style
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Lantern’ style
- Standard Wall mounted
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Lantern’ style
Type 3.B - Ginnells
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Lantern’ style
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Lantern’ style
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Lantern’ style
- Standard Wall mounted
- Heritage Wall mounted ‘Lantern’ style
Type 3.C - Lanes
- Standard 6m
- Heritage 6m ‘Lantern’ style
Type 3.D - Paths
- Standard - 6m
- Standard - 6m
- Heritage 6m ‘Lantern’ style
Non-adopted street lighting
External lighting within Chester City Centre must be in line with the Chester Public Realm Design Guide.
The following design principles apply to junctions in Section 2.5 – Biodiversity – Lighting and protecting dark skies. This includes requirements for colour temperature, cut off angles, etc.
Glare-free or low glare light engines should be specified to provide a soft light quality.