Lincolnshire Retrofit Scheme

Background

Spanning one of England’s largest rural counties, Lincolnshire’s street lighting network plays a vital role in keeping communities connected and safe. From historic market towns to busy urban centres and  rural roads, thousands of lanterns light the way for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Lincolnshire County Council has worked with TRT Lighting since 2015 to deliver reliable, efficient, and sustainable street lighting solutions. As part of its ongoing commitment to carbon reduction and cost-savings, the Council sought to cut energy consumption while extending the service life of existing  lanterns.

Rather than discarding perfectly good lantern bodies, the decision was made to retrofit them with new LED technology, a solution that met the Council’s goals for sustainability, efficiency, and long-term  value.

To date, the project has already achieved more than 65% reduction in energy consumption compared with a 2016 baseline, through the introduction of LED technology, dimming, and part-night operation.

Solution

TRT designed and supplied bespoke retrofit solutions to upgrade lanterns across the county. A total of  5,400 units are being installed, covering models such as Arc 80, Iridium, Evolo 2, Sapphire 1 and Sapphire 2. The retrofit trays allow existing lantern housings to remain in use for a further 10–20 years, dramatically reducing waste while lowering capital and maintenance costs.

All retrofit units were rigorously tested in TRT’s LIA-accredited laboratory to ensure compliance with  light levels, uniformity, thermal performance and expected lifetime. Each unit is supported by a five-year warranty, backed by TRT’s UK manufacturing and engineering expertise.

Outcome

The retrofit programme is ongoing throughout 2025 and already delivering clear benefits:

• Over 65% energy savings and reduced CO₂ emissions

• Circular economy approach, reusing of lantern bodies to minimise waste

• Lower maintenance and extended asset life for long-term cost efficiency

• Streamlined installation – each retrofit can be completed in under ten minutes, reducing disruption and labour costs

• Trusted partnership built on the continued collaboration between Lincolnshire County Council, delivery partner Balfour Beatty, and TRT Lighting

This large-scale retrofit demonstrates how smart design and sustainable thinking can modernise existing assets, delivering both environmental and financial savings without the need for complete replacement.

The lighting solution for the Haverfordwest Footbridge needed to provide safe and effective illumination without impacting the river habitat. TRT Lighting worked closely with the project team to develop an integrated approach, combining handrail lighting and low-level luminaires to meet both functional and environmental requirements. The result is a well-considered scheme that supports pedestrian use while respecting the surrounding setting.

Nathan Poundall IEng MILP BEng Principal Engineer – Street Lighting – Lincolnshire County Council