Torbay streets set for smarter winter lighting

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-13 19:09 3 min read

Snow-covered residential street illuminated by street lights during a winter night.

By demoduck.co.uk Local News Desk
Source: Torbay Council

Around three-quarters of Torbay’s nearly 15,000 highway streetlights have now been fitted with equipment for a new smart-lighting network, putting the programme ahead of schedule before its planned November switch-on.

The upgrade combines energy-efficient LED lamps with the Telensa Central Management System, which will allow engineers to monitor and control lights remotely. Torbay Council says the completed project is expected to cut carbon emissions by more than 200 tonnes a year while reducing the authority’s annual energy bill.

Three-quarters of the network upgraded since March

Work began in March and has been rolled out in stages across Torquay, Brixham and Paignton. Contractors have installed 12 base stations, while each streetlight is being fitted with a telecell that can send data to the central system.

Torbay streets set for smarter winter lighting

Project measure	Confirmed position
Highway streetlights in Torbay	Almost 15,000
Network fitted with smart-lighting equipment	About 75% by August
Base stations installed	12
Older lights receiving LED units during summer	More than 3,400
Expected annual carbon reduction	More than 200 tonnes
Planned system go-live	November

The progress figure means most of the network has been prepared for central management, but it does not mean every older lamp has already been replaced by an LED unit. The council says further replacements will continue through its maintenance programme as lights reach the end of their working life.

Remote controls are intended to speed up fault finding

The Telensa Central Management System is designed to give the highways team at SWISCo real-time information from the lighting network. Instead of relying solely on inspections, engineers should be able to identify faults, monitor performance and adjust light levels from a central point.

The system can also support different lighting levels for low-footfall periods, maintenance work, emergencies and local events. The council says this is intended to lower electricity use while maintaining acceptable street-lighting levels.

That flexibility may also affect how quickly faults can be investigated once the system is live. However, the council has not published a street-by-street timetable for the remaining work or individual lighting settings for particular areas.

Torquay, Brixham and Paignton have been included in the rollout

For residents, the most immediate visible change is likely to be the replacement of older fittings with LEDs and occasional temporary disruption while equipment is installed. The rollout began in Torquay before moving through Brixham and Paignton.

Councillor Chris Lewis, Torbay Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for Climate Change, said the upgraded network would be ready for winter and would give the authority more flexibility over lighting levels. He said the approach was intended to balance environmental and biodiversity considerations with public wellbeing and efforts to address anti-social behaviour.

Streetlights account for the council’s largest energy cost

Streetlighting is the largest element of Torbay Council’s energy bill, making the programme a central part of its Climate Change Action Plan. Alongside the lighting work, the council has listed projects including solar panels on council buildings and schools, heat-pump installations, electric vehicles and tree planting.

SWISCo engineers are now preparing the network for the planned November switch-on. The expected savings depend on the system operating as planned and on the continuing replacement of end-of-life lights with more efficient units.

Source: Torbay Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check How this update was checked

This report uses the council’s published update on the streetlight modernisation programme and distinguishes confirmed progress from expected benefits.

Checks

Confirmed that almost 15,000 highway lights are covered by the rollout.
Checked the reported three-quarter completion figure and 12 installed base stations.
Separated the planned November go-live date from the longer-term LED replacement programme...
Reported the council’s estimate of more than 200 tonnes of annual carbon savings as an exp...

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