Blackfriars Bridge
January 2025
PROJECT NEWS
Blackfriars Bridge shines thanks to DW Windsor’s heritage lighting upgrade
Blackfriars Bridge, a Grade II listed structure spanning the River Thames in London, recently underwent a significant refurbishment. This comprehensive project included the renovation of cast iron parapets, upgraded heritage lighting, and essential maintenance to enhance safety and energy efficiency.
The existing street lighting on Blackfriars Bridge faced multiple problems, including structural damage to columns, inadequate lighting coverage in key areas, poor uniformity and an outdated control system. These issues, compounded by wear and tear from traffic and environmental exposure, posed safety risks for both pedestrians and vehicles. Some pedestrian underpasses also lacked functional lighting, creating additional hazards.
To resolve these issues, DW Windsor worked with the City of London and contractor FM Conway to provide a unique lighting solution that balanced the preservation of the bridge’s historical character with modern lighting technology. DW Windsor supplied 14 replacement Edinburgh columns, and 28 Strand luminaires mounted on custom double-arm brackets, which feature a decorative flora infill that replicates the original design. The columns and brackets were finished in a bespoke red paint with white highlights to match the bridge’s existing colour scheme.
One key challenge was safely securing the replacement columns to the bridge structure. To overcome this, DW Windsor worked closely with the installation team to develop custom flange plates that accommodated the bridge’s original ironwork mounting points.
Another crucial aspect of the upgrade involved lowering the column height from 10 metres to 8 metres and adjusting the colour temperature from 4000K to 3000K, which aligns with the City of London’s Lighting Strategy. These changes reduced light pollution and minimised light spill into the river. Additionally, by replacing the 250W SON-T lamps with LED technology, the scheme was able to achieve an initial energy saving of 55%. However, this saving was increased to over 75% as the City of London operates its lanterns at a reduced output during normal use.
DW Windsor also collaborated with Urban Control to install control nodes and antennas, enabling the City of London to monitor energy usage and adjust illumination levels via a central management system (CMS). This system allows for quick adjustments to light levels in response to emergencies, including the ability to increase illumination to 50 lux during critical situations, ensuring safety and accessibility for emergency personnel.
The Blackfriars Bridge lighting upgrade delivers a careful balance of safety, historical preservation, and environmental impact. DW Windsor’s solution preserves the bridge’s heritage while integrating modern functionality through energy-efficient LEDs and advanced controls, helping to enhance the visual appeal of the bridge, particularly from the Thames and surrounding embankments.
—Andy Rogers, M&E Manager at City of London
Alex Winship, Specials Product Design Manager at DW Windsor, remarked: “This project demonstrates how traditional design and modern technology can coexist. By integrating energy-efficient solutions while respecting the bridge’s historical significance, we’ve delivered a scheme that ensures safety, sustainability, and aesthetics for years to come.”
Andy Rogers, M&E Manager at City of London, added: “The Blackfriars Bridge lighting upgrade delivers a careful balance of safety, historical preservation, and environmental impact. DW Windsor’s solution preserves the bridge’s heritage while integrating modern functionality through energy-efficient LEDs and advanced controls, helping to enhance the visual appeal of the bridge, particularly from the Thames and surrounding embankments.”
Project credits:
Client: City of London
Contractor: FM Conway