Leicestershire County Council has saved upwards of £500,000 through a streetlight dimming initiative.
The 18-month trial scheme involved streetlights across the county being reduced to 30% brightness from January 2024 to June this year, from the hours of 8pm to 7am.
According to the council, the pilot project produced almost £540,000 in savings, leading cabinet members to consider introducing the scheme on a permanent basis.
Alongside its financial efficiencies, the trial also resulted in energy savings sufficient to power as many as 500 homes a year.
The council has confirmed that although the project did not see streetlights dimmed in town centres, or at zebra crossings and locations ‘with known safety concerns’, there was a reduction in overnight accidents compared to data from 2024.
Cllr Charles Whitford, county council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: ‘By making these changes permanent we will be saving both money and energy going forward.
Acknowledging the concerns that existed before the trial began, Cllr Whitford provided reassurance that the council will continue ‘listening to residents, working with communities and looking at the evidence available when making decisions about streetlighting’.
