Acrospire’s Heritage Lighting Upgrade at Britannia Quay Balances Performance and Ecology

  Posted by: user_amy      25th August 2026

What do you do when ageing infrastructure, coastal conditions and a previously undetected bat presence all come into play?

At Britannia Quay in Cardiff Bay, Acrospire worked with the local Highways team to deliver a heritage lighting upgrade that improves performance, preserves the character of the quay, and responds to environmental constraints, including the city’s first 2700K scheme to support local wildlife.

Britannia Quay sits on the north side of Roath Basin in Cardiff Bay, a location shaped by maritime history and ongoing port activity. Positioned close to the Senedd and overlooking active shipping routes, the quay combines historic character with a working waterfront environment.

When concerns were raised about the condition of the existing lighting, it became clear that a straightforward replacement would not be enough. Lanterns were ageing, some units had failed, and the original brackets showed clear signs of corrosion. The Estates team engaged the Highways Streetlighting team for guidance.

As the existing functional lighting columns passed the structural testing procedure, the lighting unit’s lantern and bracket became the main focus and the challenge quickly evolved.

As the original lanterns could not be sourced and their origins were unknown, a like-for-like replacement required careful consideration. The Ealing lantern provided a strong visual match, ensuring continuity across the quay.

Alongside the lantern upgrade, Acrospire designed and refurbished the existing brackets, restoring them to a structurally sound condition while retaining their distinctive form.

The original installation showed clear signs of age, with corrosion across the bracket and deterioration in the lantern housing. Rather than replace outright, the bracket assembly was re-engineered to improve structural integrity and long-term performance, resulting in a cleaner, more refined profile better suited to the coastal environment.

While the new lanterns offer a clear improvement in performance, the upgrade remains visually subtle, preserving the character of the quay without drawing attention to the intervention.

During the design phase, environmental considerations formed an important part of the scheme, particularly around the potential impact of light spill on bats and Cardiff Council’s Biodiversity Duty under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.

As expected for the location, an ecologist identified common and soprano pipistrelles foraging and commuting alongside the dock. In response, the lighting design was adapted to help minimise potential impact on local wildlife while maintaining safe and effective illumination.

A key change was the move from Cardiff’s standard 3000K specification to 2700K, marking the first scheme of its kind in the city. Light spill contours were also carefully assessed during the design process. The lanterns already featured a directional spill bias towards the required areas, which performed positively during on-site evaluation.

Following this assessment, additional front and rear louvres were introduced to further reduce light spill onto surrounding areas and the adjacent waterway.

Together, these measures helped create a solution that balanced ecological considerations with operational and public safety requirements.

The lanterns operate via photocell control, providing a simple and reliable solution suited to the quay environment.

Manufactured in the UK using locally sourced materials, the Ealing lantern combines durability with a reduced carbon footprint. A marine-grade painted finish further supports long-term performance in this exposed coastal set

A key factor in the project’s success was the collaborative approach between the Highways team and Acrospire, building on an established working relationship.

The upgrade delivers a clear improvement in both performance and reliability. The transition from SON to LED reduces energy consumption while providing more consistent light output across the quay.

Feedback from both the client and local residents has been positive, with the new lighting integrating seamlessly into its surroundings while delivering a noticeable uplift in quality and performance.

For further information on Acrospire’s heritage range please visit: https://acrospire.co/ranges/heritage/