Across the Royal Borough of Greenwich, ageing lighting, poor visibility and anti-social behaviour had made a network of pedestrian subways feel unsafe to use, particularly after dark.
Working with the council and contractor FM Conway, Acrospire delivered a lighting upgrade across 12 locations, improving visibility, deterring misuse and helping restore these spaces as safe, accessible routes for the community.
What does it take to make people feel safe using a subway again?
Across the Royal Borough of Greenwich, a network of pedestrian subways connects residential areas, roads and waterways. While essential for local movement, many of these spaces had become spaces people were reluctant to use, particularly after dark.
Lighting levels were inconsistent, fittings were failing, and visibility was poor. In some locations, the lack of effective illumination contributed to anti-social behaviour, creating routes that felt unwelcoming and, at times, unsafe.
Backed by funding from the Mayor’s Energy Efficiency Fund (MEEF), the council set out to address these challenges as part of a wider effort to improve infrastructure, reduce energy consumption and support safer public spaces.
Acrospire carried out a full survey and lighting design across all locations, developing a tailored solution for each location using its VandaWay lighting system.
Rather than relying on traditional ceiling-mounted fittings, VandaWay was positioned along the upper edges of the subway walls or in some cases on railing infrastructure. This delivers a continuous wash of light across both vertical and horizontal surfaces, improving facial recognition and eliminating the deep shadows typically associated with poorly lit subways and pathways.
Lighting design was central to the scheme’s success, particularly in managing the transition between daylight and night-time conditions. Subways require different illumination levels to support visual adaptation when entering and exiting, and each scheme was carefully designed to meet these requirements. The result is strong uniformity and clear, consistent visibility throughout.
‘Subways present a unique challenge. It’s not just about lighting the space, it’s about how people feel moving through it’, explains Ranjit Reehal, Area Sales Manager at Acrospire. ‘By improving visibility and removing dark spots, you create an environment where people can see clearly ahead of them, and that has a real impact on confidence and safety.’
At Bryan Close Subway, daytime illuminance levels exceeded 300 lux, delivering clear visibility across the entire space. Night-time levels were carefully reduced to minimise glare while maintaining safe visibility.
At locations such as Waterlily Walk, where the subway runs alongside a waterway, the lighting design also accounted for environmental considerations. Light was carefully controlled to remain focused within the pedestrian space, reducing unnecessary spill into the surrounding area.
The project was installed by FM Conway. The robust, vandal-resistant construction of VandaWay was essential for these environments. Designed to withstand tampering and minimise failure points, the system supports consistent performance in challenging conditions.
The upgrade has transformed a series of underused and often avoided routes into safer, more accessible connections for the local community. Improved light levels and uniformity support safer movement, while the reduction in shadowing helps deter anti-social behaviour.
At the same time, the transition to LED technology delivers energy savings and supports the council’s wider carbon reduction goals. By combining considered lighting design with durable, fit-for-purpose products, the scheme demonstrates how targeted infrastructure upgrades can have a meaningful impact on how public infrastructure is used and experienced.
To find out more about Acrospire’s VandaWay range please visit, https://acrospire.co/product/functional/vandaway/
