VolkerHighways wins £4.7m lighting contract

VolkerHighways has been awarded a £4.7 million contract with London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to replace nearly 16 thousand street lights with new LED lanterns.

The upgrade process, which starts in January, will include 2,500 column replacements and also sees the first full UK borough-wide installation of the Urban Control central management system (CMS).

VolkerHighways says Urban Control aims to help organisations harness the power of SMART-city technology, by equipping them with the knowledge and tools to build energy and money-saving solutions, based around their communities’ needs.

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham’s CMS will offer them the ability to monitor and control lanterns remotely, resulting in energy, carbon and monetary savings.

As the current provider for London Borough of Barking and Dagenham’s street lighting term maintenance contract, VolkerHighways has already installed 1,000 LED lanterns within the area.  An additional 18,000 LED lanterns have also been installed in the neighbouring borough of Havering.

Alistair Thompson, managing director of VolkerHighways, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract, building on the successful relationship we have had with the borough since 2011, through our current lighting maintenance contract.  The introduction of a fully controlled LED street lighting system across the borough will enhance the lighting of the borough’s streets and reduce energy costs for the council.”

Councillor Lynda Rice, cabinet member for environment and street scene at London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, added: “Replacing street lamps with newer, better lights demonstrates why this borough has a positive future. The new lights will help make our streets safer for pedestrians and motorists and will be more cost effective and environmentally friendly too.”