A BOLLARD IS NOT A STREET LIGHT — NO MATTER WHAT YOU CALL IT
We increasingly see residential developments proposing low-level bollards to illuminate roads and pedestrian routes, with the justification that it’s “wayfinding, not street lighting”.
But changing the name doesn’t change the function.
If lighting is intended to help people navigate roads and footpaths safely after dark, it must be designed to meet the needs of that environment. Lighting is about far more than putting light on the ground. Visibility, uniformity, glare, shadows, parked vehicles, CCTV and security all matter. BS 5489-1:2020 provides guidance on road lighting design, while Secured by Design highlights the limitations of bollard lighting for security, particularly its ability to illuminate people’s faces. And no, simply calling it a private road or “wayfinding” doesn’t make those considerations disappear.
Bollards absolutely have their place in landscaping, courtyards and as supplementary lighting. But there’s a significant difference between amenity lighting and using bollards as the primary lighting for roads or security-critical pedestrian routes.
At MMA Lighting Consultancy, we believe the question should be: Not “Can we get away with bollards?” but “Does the lighting actually do the job?” Good lighting design starts with the requirements of the environment. The luminaire comes second.
If you’re involved in residential development, highways, planning or infrastructure and need independent street lighting design support, give us a call.
At MMA Lighting Consultancy Ltd we produce a variety of Street Lighting Designs, on sites that can be located anywhere across the county. These jobs can be for large developer companies, civil engineering companies of for planning architects. If you are need of assistance with a street lighting design please feel free to get in touch and we will lead you through the process.
Email: info@mma-consultancy.co.uk
Telephone: 0118 321 5636
