CU Phosco reconditions seafront luminaires
CU Phosco is restoring 100 traditional street lights and columns in Brighton and Hove.
During the initial phase, five lampposts will be removed for full restoration. Each column is being individually logged to ensure correct reinstatement. The project has been carefully developed in collaboration with Historic England and a specialist metal conservator to maintain historical integrity.
The lampposts, which date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, will undergo a meticulous process of lead-paint removal, structural assessment, damage repair, and protective coating before returning to their original locations.
Brighton and Hove City Council has appointed expert industry partners to oversee different aspects of the project:
Cast Iron Welding Services will handle the transportation, conservation, and structural restoration of the lampposts.
CU Phosco, originally commissioned in 1982 to manufacture replica lanterns of the classic copper originals, will produce historically accurate lanterns and brackets. These will remain true to their original design while incorporating energy-efficient LED lighting.
The restored lanterns will undergo testing, including a 2,000-hour salt spray assessment, to withstand the unique demands of the coastal environment. Using a combination of cast rather than pressed aluminium—an improvement over previous designs—the restored fixtures will offer enhanced longevity and resilience, combining tradition with energy-efficient LED lighting in a warm, sympathetic 3000K colour temperature – which match the original lanterns colour and brightness.
Matt Murray, Sales Director, CU Phosco Lighting told the Circular Lighting Report: ‘This is a very proud moment for CU Phosco, after years of development to ensure that the lanterns replicate the original designs, with innovative and sustainable solutions to enable the seafront to be returned to its former glory.
‘The project team focused on providing energy-efficient, maintenance-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing products, maintaining the authenticity of the original lanterns. Proving that existing heritage lanterns can be replicated with circularity in mind’.
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