Subscribe to our Construction Newsfeed
UK Construction Directory
Search our 157,484 companies....

Construction News

06/08/2015

Southend-On-Sea Council Secures Funding

Construction News Image
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has become the first council in England to secure finance from the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) to replace its existing streetlights with lower energy alternatives.

GIB has agreed to provide funding of £8.2m, alongside a grant of £5.1m from the Department for Transport (DfT), as part of a £13.5m programme of refurbishments. The project will see 14,000 lanterns and some 4,000 other pieces of illuminated street furniture replaced with energy-saving LED alternatives.

The deal also covers the renewal of ageing street lighting columns and the installation of a central management system (CMS) to allow the council to remotely manage its lanterns across the borough. The CMS will also improve monitoring and metering.
-- Advertisement --
hss



The lights are expected to use at least 55% less energy than existing lights and will cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 16,500 tonnes during their lifetime.

Ed Northam, Head of Investment Banking at the Green Investment Bank, said: "We're delighted to have helped Southend-on-Sea Borough Council accelerate its streetlighting refit programme and hope that the agreement encourages its peer organisations to consider initiating similar strategies."

Councillor Martin Terry, Executive Member for Public Protection, Waste & Transport at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, added: "Bringing this popular project forward is a win-win situation. The sooner we replace every lamp in the Borough, the sooner we can save money, reduce carbon emissions and provide residents and motorists with brighter, cleaner light.

"Unlike many other authorities in the country, this council was determined not to plunge our borough into darkness as a means of making much-needed savings. Instead we listened to the voice of local residents and opted to invest in green technology as a means of saving money in the longer term.

"We've chose a pioneering solution that shields residents from increased fear of crime and poorer road safety that are often associated with turning the streetlights out."

(LM/JP)

Latest Construction News

11/07/2025
Story Homes has submitted a full planning application to South Ribble Borough Council for a proposed new residential development in Longton, aiming to build on the success of its nearby Longton Grange scheme. With the majority of homes now sold at Longton Grange, the developer is looking to meet co
11/07/2025
Essar Energy Transition (EET), through its subsidiary EET Property Limited, has completed the acquisition of Thornton Science Park. The 66-acre site includes purpose-built laboratories, industrial facilities, and office space, and is set to play a central role in EET's ambition to create one of Eur
11/07/2025
Families are preparing to move into four newly completed houses for affordable rent at the Malthouse Meadows development in West Sompting, Adur. The latest handover marks a key milestone in the delivery of high-quality, energy-efficient homes aimed at addressing local housing needs. The four fami
11/07/2025
Galliford Try's project team at the Syngenta manufacturing site in Huddersfield has been shortlisted in two categories at the 2025 Constructing Excellence (CE) Yorkshire and Humber Awards, celebrating the success and resilience of a long-standing partnership spanning over two decades. The team has
11/07/2025
Cambridgeshire County Council has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction to deliver a new secondary school at the heart of the Alconbury Weald development, continuing its investment in the region's educational infrastructure. The new school, named Alconbury Weald Church Academy, will be run by the D
11/07/2025
Passengers and residents in Stone, Staffordshire, are being urged to prepare for a £7 million-plus package of railway upgrades set to improve safety, performance and long-term reliability on the West Coast Main Line. The work, scheduled to take place during the summer school holidays, will include
11/07/2025
A ceremonial tile signing has marked a major milestone in the restoration of the historic Pippbrook House, as roof-level works near completion on the Grade II* listed building in Dorking. Chair of Mole Valley District Council (MVDC), Councillor Roger Adams, led the event, joined by a host of guests
11/07/2025
ACS Construction Group has been appointed Principal Contractor by GE Vernova for a major infrastructure expansion at its Stafford HVDC Transformers facility, part of the company’s drive to support global decarbonisation through advanced transformer technology. ACS commenced with the Test Supply Bui
10/07/2025
Vistry Group has agreed two major deals with housing provider Abri to enable the delivery of almost 200 affordable homes across Hampshire, marking a significant step forward in addressing local housing needs. In Funtley, near Fareham, Vistry has completed a simultaneous land acquisition and forward
10/07/2025
Caddick Construction has officially completed its first Midlands project with the handover of Mansion House, a six-storey residential development comprising 58 new apartments, to joint venture partners Urban Splash and Places for People. Located on the 43-acre Port Loop island alongside Birmingham
Stuart CanvasAqua Direct LtdLakeside HireEfco UK LtdSteel ExpressVinco SalesExcel Modular Buildings LimitedWestermans International LtdManchester Skip CompanySalford Skips