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We are responsible for 54,000 street lights on highways across the county. These street lights are maintained on our behalf by our contractors Balfour Beatty.

Street lighting is also provided by parish and town councils, district councils, National Highways (formerly Highways England) (trunk roads and motorways) and private owners.

Street lighting map

The street lights we own have a code (such as L1HJN) to identify them.

If the map does not load here, please view it on the My Cambridgeshire website

Street lighting energy procurement for Parish and Town Councils

Most street lighting electricity supplies are un-metered, known as a UMS supply, and only the larger energy suppliers are likely to be able to take on UMS customers.

Our electricity supply contract is currently procured through an ESPO framework. However in October 2023, the Assets and Procurement Committee made the decision to switch to purchasing our energy via the Crown Commercial Services framework, with effect from 1 October 2024.

We believe that both of these frameworks can be used by public sector organisations. They may offer better deals than going directly to a supplier.

To find out more about the options available to Parish and Town Councils to procure their own electricity supply contract, please contact our Climate Change and Energy Team at: energyinvestmentunitteam@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Street Lighting - Information on operational requirements for streetlights.

Under the Highways Act 1980, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Parish and Town Councils have a duty to maintain street lighting columns in a safe condition.

Assessing street light installations for structural and electrical safety

In order to meet these requirements, it is necessary to inspect and maintain street furniture in accordance with the Electricity at Works Regulations 1989 and to manage the risk of structural failure by inspecting the street lighting columns regularly and accurately recording their condition in accordance with Institute of Lighting Professionals guidance.

Street lighting columns must also be electrically tested and inspected by a competent person every 6 years in accordance with British Standard: BS 7671.

A list of registered street lighting contractors is published on the Highway Electrical Association (HEA) website.

Report a street lighting fault

If you wish to report a fault with one of our street lights, please go to Balfour Beatty's streetlight fault reporting webpage or call Balfour Beatty on 0800 783 8247 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. For out of hours emergencies, you can call outside of these office hours.

If you would like to enquire about our contract with Balfour Beatty, please contact our Street Lighting Team directly at street.lighting@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Street lighting repair times

Balfour Beatty aims to repair all streetlight problems reported to them within five working days. However this may take up to 30 working days if there is a problem with the electricity supply. Balfour Beatty are dependent on the relevant electricity Distribution Network Operator to fix electrical supply faults.

Emergency faults that are a danger to the public (such as a fallen streetlight column or a school crossing light failure) will be responded to within one hour

Street lighting maintenance

A 25 year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract commenced in July 2011 between Cambridgeshire County Council and Balfour Beatty. This PFI contract will allow Balfour Beatty to carry out vital improvements and maintenance to county council owned street lighting on our behalf. 

Street lighting attachments

We are required to make sure any attachments to our street lights do not pose any risk to public safety or highway equipment. If you would like to attach any item to a county council street light (such as a hanging basket, festive lighting, advertising or CCTV cameras), you will need to apply for an attachment licence.

You can apply for a 12 month licence for temporary / seasonal attachments or a five year licence for permanent attachments. Please read our attachment policy carefully before applying.

Any attachments installed without a licence in place or deemed unsafe could be removed without notice. Any costs incurred for this removal will be charged to the offending body.

Please complete the below online application form a minimum of 12 weeks prior to the installation start date. We only accept online applications.

Fees for attachments

Fees apply to commercial organisations only.

We charge £123.82 to check the application. It is then passed to our contractor Balfour Beatty for technical approval and to update our street lighting inventory. Additional Balfour Beatty costs will depend on the number and type of attachment. See the below price list for more information. Please note all costs exclude VAT

Balfour Beatty Process Fees
1-5 standard attachments in a single application
Technical Approval Check fee 

£159.12 to review application.

6-10 standard attachments in a single application
Technical Approval Check fee £187.61 to review application.
10+ attachments in a single application
Technical Approval Check fee

£194.84 to review application.

Banners
Technical Approval Check fee

£141.48 to review application. 

Street Lighting Inventory records Update fee

£2.11 per unit for administration for banners covered by application.

Balfour Beatty reserve the right to apply the banners structure to any application with large attachments (above 0.3m2).

If you need help with the application or need to send further information, please contact the Street Lighting Team by email at street.lighting@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.