Works to install up to £330,000 of new LED lighting in the market square has started, helping to make one of the town’s most significant and historic locations a true focal point, even on the darkest of evenings.

The Northampton Borough Council scheme is part of ongoing enhancements to the market square and overall regeneration of the town centre. The events space has proved to be a successful venture in 2009, bringing over fifty events to Northampton during the Spring and Summer months, and now lighting the market square will allow events to take place in the evening.

The market square lighting project has been funded by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) and Northamptonshire County Council is project managing the installation. Majority of the works are scheduled for completion in March 2010. The latest technologies in computerised, LED lighting are being used to transform the future of the space. Vertical strip, flood and spot lighting will be mounted on the buildings to emphasize key elements of the beautiful historical architecture. 15 new lamp columns will also be installed around the edge of the square, meaning people will soon feel safe and welcomed within the square at night time. Consent for the installation of lighting on listed buildings was sought and granted.

WNDC has recently confirmed a further £80,000 of funding, which will allow additional works to go ahead including coloured illumination of the alleyways entering the square. The 4m by 4m ‘screen cluster’ on Waterloo House, which will be able to show still images or programmed messages, will now have better resolution and definition. Also, subject to an additional survey, Peacock Place is set to receive the biggest make-over – the project aspires to bring the old Peacock Hotel back to life by using projections on a series of gauzes that will be hung on the darkened windows.

The coloured mounted lights will be operated remotely and, as was demonstrated by Phillips Lighting in September 2009, the lights can be programmed to change colour at the touch of a button. Vibrant lighting fading from one colour to the next will add to the atmosphere of any event in the market square but the system’s flexibility means themes can be planned for particular occasions – red and white for St George’s day and green for St Patrick’s day. In addition to bringing a dramatic and welcoming effect to the centre of the town, the state-of-the-art lighting will bring large energy savings, maintenance cost savings and crime reduction. The energy efficient LED technology will use less power than the ten lamps currently on the Market Square. LED’s don’t need replacing for up to twenty-five years, making the scheme more environmentally friendly, cheaper to power and to maintain.

Cllr Richard Church, cabinet member for planning and regeneration, commented: “Northamptonians are very proud of our historic market square and the new lighting scheme will lift the night time atmosphere as well as enhancing the wonderful architecture. People of Northampton have been attracted back into the town centre by family activities, specialist markets, and various concerts but we have been restricted to daytime events. This project is extremely exciting because it’s creating the opportunity for exciting events to take place in the evening – the borough council is committed to making Northampton a vibrant and appealing place to visit, day or night.”

Roger Mendonca, WNDC’s Chief Operating Officer, said “This scheme will use cutting edge technology to showcase the historic surroundings of the Market square. It is just one of many investments we are making in Northampton, helping to support an even more attractive, bustling and thriving town centre.”

Cllr Heather Smith, county council cabinet member for environment, growth and transport, said: “This project will no doubt contribute to enhancing the appearance of the Market Square, a key location in the town, and subsequently assist in making the county a great place in which to live, work and invest.”

Related posts:

1. Funding approved to light up Northampton Market Square
2. Work begins bringing national cycle network to Northampton waterside
3. New iHub is set to build an innovative future
4. Northampton Marina bid succesful
5. Decision to approve over £1.8 million will help deliver a marina for Northampton