How festive lighting can help increase street safety

With only a few months until Christmas, the nights have already started drawing in. As the evenings get darker, it’s time to consider getting festive. But from late October, Britain’s high streets, town centres, and neighbourhoods will all face a familiar challenge: keeping our streets feeling safe, inviting, and alive after dark.

For councils, BIDs, and local businesses, the investment in festive lighting offers more than just adding a bit of Christmas sparkle; it's a smart and seasonal way to boost confidence, support local trade, and help people feel safer when the sun sets early. In this blog, we want to explore how Christmas lighting can be both aesthetic and functional.

What challenges do councils and businesses face?

Street lighting should be a priority for councils, especially during the winter months. When lighting conditions are poor, people avoid going out altogether. Safety has been a concern for many, and the statistics only prove it. According to research¹, only “49% of women in the UK reported feeling safe walking in the dark, compared to 73% of men”. At least everyone is in agreement with the solution; “85% of women and 77% of men believe better-lit streets could help improve safety for women”². Ambient lighting can play a major role in how safe people feel in public spaces.

The clear message for councils and commercials : good lighting really matters.

Brighter lighting does make all the difference during the darker months, so how can you combine the festive spirit with night-time safety?

More than just festive fun

Ambient lighting is a great way of bringing warmth and activity to our public spaces, especially over the winter months (October-March). By combining the functional benefits of good lighting and the emotional appeal of seasonal displays, councils and businesses can transform their streets into places where people want to be - not just somewhere to pass through.

Think strategically - by using creative, well-placed lighting to draw people into key areas, councils and businesses can support evening trade and build a stronger sense of community pride.

Lighting is one of the clearest signs a place is cared for, and it transforms streets into places where people want to be, not just pass through.

How can you make the most of this research?

For Local Councils and BIDs:

• Improve Safety: Well-lit spaces discourage anti-social behaviour and helps residents feel more at ease after dark.

• Show real investment: Lighting is one of the most immediate, visible signs that a place is well cared for and actively managed.

• Support the evening economy: Lighting up high streets, markets, and event spaces encourages footfall during peak shopping periods.

For Local Businesses:

• Attract more trade: A brighter, more festive street scene makes people more likely to stop, shop, and stay.

• Create shareable moments: In a digital age, a well-lit street or shopfront becomes free marketing.

• Build a commercial community: Working with BIDs or councils on lighting schemes spreads the cost and maximises impact.

Clearly, there are huge benefits to making a strategic, well thought out investment in festive lighting this Christmas, and the planning needs to start now. But before you spend a penny, you need to know where it will count.

Did you know?

A systematic UK review of street-lighting improvements in areas like Dudley and Stoke-on-Trent found violent and property crime dropped by around 21%, including about 38 fewer crimes per 100 in well-lit areas - making it one of the strongest pieces of evidence for street lighting’s impact on public safety in the UK.³

Getting it right for you and your community

Several towns and districts are already showing the way when it comes to winter lighting:

• Light up dark spaces: Use more ambient lighting displays for areas with reduced visibility, or that aren't as well-lit by streetlights. You might consider festoon or light ceilings for a warm glow in these areas.

• Don't forget secluded parkland: Consider strategic tree wraps or uplighters in parkland areas and tree-lined avenues when growth can make street lighting less effective.

• Work together: Get local shops and landlords involved to extend lighting across a wider area, and to get everyone involved.

• Prioritise dark areas: Focus on pathways, alleyways, car parks and transport hubs where people often feel vulnerable.

• Use timers: Save energy by programming lights to switch off during quieter hours.

• Keep it inclusive: Think about the long-term opportunities once the lights are installed. Winter lighting doesn’t just have to be tied to Christmas. Neutral, seasonal designs can be more inclusive and used across multiple months. Make the most of your investment and think ahead.

Keep the solutions simple

Thoughtfully lit streets do more than brighten the night, they nurture safer, more welcoming neighbourhoods where people feel at home. Extend your lighting strategy beyond the festive season, and you're creating spaces that encourage connection, support local businesses, and build community pride. If you'd like a little help bringing that vision to life, we're just a message away.

References:

1. Understanding the travel needs of London's diverse communities: Women

2. What would make the UK safer for women, according to women?

3. Crime reduction toolkit: Street Lighting

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