A regeneration scheme for Cathedral Square, Peterborough integrates the lighting of public and private buildings to create an inviting space that includes a water feature lit by colour-changing LEDs, and warm, even, white light reflected from the facades of heritage buildings.

The scheme has helped transform Peterborough’s Cathedral Square from a dark and unwelcoming area at night into a destination with a growing night-time economy. The re-landscaped and pedestrianised area now has street and architectural lighting that harmonises and is designed to guide people into the area.

Consistent, warm, white light at 3000K, mainly directed at the vertical surfaces of the surrounding heritage buildings has helped create a welcoming atmosphere without distracting from a spectacular new water feature that makes use of colour-changing LEDs. Shops and significant structures such as the Roman archway, all four facades of the Guildhall and the tower of St John’s Church have been lit at high level or at the corners to help wayfinding as well as to highlight architectural features. And new, decorative and energy-efficient street lighting has been added.

The challenges included harmonising the lighting of public and privately-owned buildings and lighting heritage buildings sympathetically. The lighting strategy focused on warm, even, white light reflected off vertical surfaces, using decorative street lighting sparingly to open up the square and lighting the corners and tops of buildings to improve way-finding.

The scheme involved numerous light tests and extensive negotiations based on a cohesive lighting strategy before the lengthy process of renovating the square and surrounding area took place.