Street Lighting Policy

This policy will detail how the Stockton Borough Council (SBC), as a responsible local Highway Authority, will provide and maintain Street Lighting on the adopted Highway subject to available funding. It aims to strike a balance between the continuing need to reduce energy and maintenance costs in conjunction with minimising the environmental impact of Street Lighting whilst maximising safe use of the highway for all users.

The term "Street Lighting" encompasses all illuminated assets on the adopted highway including street lights, signs, bollards and other street lighting furniture.

There is no legal obligation for highway authorities to provide Street Lighting however Section 97 of the Highway Act 1980 gives highway authorities powers to do so should it wish to in carrying out its duty of care for all users of the public highway.

The Council currently manages and maintains in excess of 29000 street lights and over 2000 illuminated signs and illuminated bollards.

Where Street Lighting is provided on the highway the Council is then required by the same Act to keep it in a safe condition under the Section 41 duty to maintain the highway free of danger for all users.

Highways England is the Highway Authority for Street Lighting on Trunk Roads (for example A66 and A19) and Motorways, and has its own policies for the design, provision and maintenance of those installations.