Cash confirmed for £430m street lighting schemes

Government funding of £151m was confirmed this week for Croydon and Lewisham’s street lighting improvement contract which has been won by Skanska/John Laing.

The funding was the largest among a £430m package of Private Finance Initiative cash confirmed by the Department for Transport.

The PFI funding will allow Croydon and Lewisham councils to carry out improvements and maintenance to street lighting.

Work will involve:

* Installation of 38,000 new lighting columns within the first five years;

* Replacement of over 7,000 illuminated traffic signs and bollards;

* Reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions; and

* State of the art technology for early detection of defective lighting.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “Good street lighting is vitally important to in reducing road accidents, crime and the fear of crime.

“That is why, despite current financial constraints, we have made £151.7 million available to Croydon and Lewisham for this important scheme.

“We will continue to invest in transport infrastructure that improves safety and provides reassurance to local communities. ”

“We are committed to providing investment for much-needed improvements to our local public services. With budgets being squeezed I am pleased to see Croydon and Lewisham finding ways to make this project happen.”

The announcement will allow Croydon and Lewisham to move to the final stages of contractual arrangements and work will begin this summer.

The cash was part of a £430m street lighting package confirmed today for:

Croydon and Lewisham: Skanska/John Laing – £151.7m
Oldham and Rochdale: Oldham, Community Lighting Partnership: E.ON, Land SecuritiesTrillium and Pell Frischmann  – £123.1m
Cambridgeshire: Balfour Beatty – £100.1
Knowsley: Scottish and Southern Energy – £58.3m