Across the UK, street lighting lanterns can often remain structurally viable for decades. Yet as local authorities transition to LED, existing lanterns are still frequently replaced as part of upgrade programmes.

To help determine the most appropriate upgrade path, Acrospire is offering a lantern appraisal service, allowing councils and contractors to submit existing lantern samples for engineering assessment and retrofit suitability guidance. The service supports the company’s wider promotion of retrofit as a practical, lower-disruption alternative for modernising existing lighting assets without unnecessary replacement.

Built around the message ‘Upgrade your lighting, not your lanterns’, Acrospire’s retrofit solutions upgrade the internal lighting components within existing housings, allowing structurally sound assets to remain in service while benefiting from modern LED performance.

Suitable for both functional and decorative lighting stock, the retrofit range includes LED gear trays and full optic assemblies with replacement bowls, helping councils improve energy efficiency, reduce material waste and extend asset life while preserving the appearance of existing schemes.

In many applications, retrofit installations can completed in under 10 minutes per lantern, helping minimise disruption, traffic management requirements and programme delays. The solutions are also compatible with a wide range of commonly installed lanterns, including heritage ranges.

The approach is already being deployed within the London Borough of Waltham Forest, where approximately 500 locally loved lanterns are being upgraded through a borough-wide retrofit programme designed to retain the character of existing lighting while reducing energy consumption and maintenance requirements.

‘In many cases, existing lanterns still have years of structural life remaining, making retrofit a viable option for LED upgrades,’ said Tim Barker, Managing Director at Acrospire.

‘However, every scheme is different. Some assets are well suited to retrofit, while others may be better suited to full replacement depending on condition, performance requirements and long-term maintenance considerations.

‘That’s why we encourage local authorities and contractors to involve our engineers early in the process. By assessing the existing lantern stock, we can help determine the most practical and cost-effective approach for each project.’

Acrospire’s retrofit solutions are designed for local authorities seeking a faster, lower-risk alternative to full lantern replacement as part of wider LED upgrade programmes.

Have existing lantern stock you’re considering upgrading? Acrospire can assess retrofit suitability and provide guidance on the most appropriate approach. Where lantern bodies remain in good structural condition, retrofit can offer a lower-carbon, lower-disruption route to LED upgrades.

https://acrospire.co/get-in-touch/