CASE STUDY
RUGBY SCHOOL
Problem
Lancing College were experiencing major challenges with gaining planning permission for their existing sand dressed Hockey facility. Due to the location in a Dark Skies area and in South Downs National Park, the college needed a creative solution that allowed participation utilising floodlighting without harming crucial habitats.
Solution
Wiseman Lighting presented the college with an LED lighting strategy that reduced light spill and offered significant energy savings and increased reliability, Wiseman’s sister company GrassRoots Power drafted and submitted the successful planning application allowing the facility to be delivered.
500 LED HOCKEY PITCH:
LED sports lighting unlocked a stalled planning application, thanks to reduced spill light compared with other sports floodlighting luminaires.
A new sand dressed artificial hockey pitch was proposed within a conservation area and open space playing field; considerations from Rugby Borough
Council planning department concentrated on excessive spill light on a tree line to the west of the pitch. The school was previously presented with several 15m lighting solutions, all rejected due to light spill.
The planning officer stated: “Because of the location of the proposed hockey pitch, adjacent to a number of mature trees, Ecology raised concerns in relation to bats using the tree lines for commuting and foraging routes and also for potential roosting.”
The Wiseman team was introduced to Judy Robinson Estates Manager, to support the school, after a number of failed applications. Wiseman provided a new lighting design to be submitted to the planning department, using advanced LED technology.
The Musco 6 column design and LED combination reduced the horizontal and vertical spill to a level below that of both the metal halide and other LED technology. Planning was granted and the new facility has now been delivered with floodlighting, enabling maximum use after dark.
“Our new lighting is superb, and we are delighted with it. Wiseman Lighting demonstrated an outstanding knowledge of the available technologies, which enabled us to make an informed choice. It was a pleasure to collaborate with such a professional team.
As a direct result of working with them and the products they proposed, Rugby School expects to be saving money on lighting maintenance and energy costs for decades to come. I would recommend any schools who are considering installing new lighting, or updating their existing systems, to contact Wiseman to discuss their plans. We have learnt a great deal about the advancement in LED technology, which has pleasantly surprised us, especially as it facilitated a successful planning application, the reduced light spill enabling us to keep both neighbours and bats happy in a very sensitive location.”
Judy Robinson
Rugby School’s Estate Manager
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