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Acrospire has launched a new lantern appraisal service designed to help Local Authorities and contractors assess whether existing lighting assets are suitable for LED retrofit upgrades.
The initiative forms part of the company’s wider retrofit programme, helping customers identify opportunities to extend asset life, reduce material waste and minimise disruption during lighting upgrade projects. By submitting existing lantern samples for engineering assessment, councils and contractors can receive guidance on retrofit suitability and the most appropriate upgrade approach for their lighting stock.
As exterior lighting upgrade programmes continue across the UK, many councils are reviewing ageing lighting assets and assessing whether full lantern replacement is always necessary. While replacement remains the right solution in some cases, many existing lanterns remain structurally sound and capable of delivering many more years of service.
To support informed decision-making, Acrospire’s appraisal service provides an engineering-led assessment of existing lantern stock, helping customers determine whether assets are suitable for refurbishment, require full replacement or would benefit from a mixed approach across a wider lighting estate.
Built around the message “Upgrade your lighting, not your lanterns”, Acrospire’s retrofit solutions upgrade the internal lighting components within existing housings, allowing structurally sound assets to remain in service while benefiting from modern LED performance.
Suitable for both functional and decorative lighting stock, the retrofit range includes LED gear trays and full optic assemblies with replacement bowls, helping councils improve energy efficiency, reduce material waste and extend asset life while preserving the appearance of existing lighting schemes.
In many applications, retrofit installations can be completed in under 10 minutes per lantern, helping minimise disruption, reduce traffic management requirements and accelerate upgrade programmes.
The solutions are compatible with a wide range of commonly installed lanterns, including heritage and decorative ranges where maintaining the original appearance of the lighting scheme is often a key project objective.
The approach is already being deployed within the London Borough of Waltham Forest, where approximately 500 Evolo lanterns are being upgraded through a borough-wide retrofit programme designed to retain the character of existing lighting while reducing energy consumption and future maintenance requirements.
For Acrospire, projects such as Waltham Forest demonstrate that retrofit can provide a practical alternative to full replacement where lantern bodies remain structurally sound and fit for continued service.
However, the company stresses that retrofit is not a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why assessing the condition and suitability of existing assets remains a critical first step.
Tim Barker, Managing Director at Acrospire, said:
“In many cases, existing lanterns still have years of structural life remaining, making retrofit a viable option for LED upgrades.
“However, every scheme is different. Some assets are well-suited to retrofit, while others may be better suited to full replacement depending on condition, performance requirements and long-term maintenance considerations.
“That’s why we encourage Local Authorities and contractors to involve our engineers early in the process. By assessing existing lantern stock, we can help determine the most practical, cost-effective and sustainable approach for each project.”
As budget pressures, sustainability targets and maintenance considerations continue to shape lighting investment decisions, many organisations are looking for ways to maximise the value of existing infrastructure.
Acrospire’s lantern appraisal service has been developed to support that process, providing customers with practical engineering guidance before upgrade programmes begin.
By assessing existing lantern samples, the company’s engineering team can identify suitable retrofit opportunities and help determine the most appropriate route forward for each scheme.
For organisations considering LED upgrades, the service offers an opportunity to explore whether existing lantern stock could continue delivering value as part of a lower-carbon, lower-disruption lighting upgrade programme.
To discuss an upcoming project or submit a lantern for assessment, contact the Acrospire team.
Our story
The idea for Acrospire was formed in 2012 when founder Tim envisioned a different kind of lighting manufacturer: one that would not only deliver outstanding customer experiences but also prioritise fair treatment for its employees.
We’ve come a long way
Motivated by the belief the industry wanted and needed better, Tim shared his plan to establish his own venture with Hatty, who simply couldn't let him do it alone.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Protecting local jobs and ensuring the best quality possible.
Working from a rented office by day and assembling lanterns in a garage at night, Tim and Hatty set to work.
11 Years later
Acrospire now inhabits a 14000² ft manufacturing facility in Basingstoke, Hampshire. We’re a proud partner of the Made in Britain scheme, ISO9001 certified and a member of all relevant lighting industry trade bodies.
Along with great relationships with our customers and a great team! We've attracted some of the most experienced members of the lighting industry, all by following one golden rule.
A simple ethos
That runs through all that we do. Customers who have made the switch to Acrospire have found working with us to be a breath of fresh air.
If you’re a professional in the lighting industry, you’re probably familiar with warranties that range from 3 to 10 years, with extensions available on special request or at additional cost. At Acrospire, where we’re proud to be different, we offer a market-leading simple 12-year warranty, as standard.
We focus on our customers not our competition. We manufacture our products in the UK: with the exception of our solar products, our supply chain is within a 60-mile radius of our factory in Basingstoke: to maintain greater control over quality. We al
Speed of response is crucial when it comes to resolving warranty issues. If we’ve made a mistake, we own it, get to the root cause, and fix it as quickly as possible. We believe in timely communication with our customers and making the resolution pro
Test and Test Again
We believe in independent testing and certification. Our new product development is in line with ISO 9001. Many of our products hold ENEC Certification. To meet the requirements of ENEC we also send random product samples for third party safety testi
Our product design is another key factor in our ability to offer a 12-year warranty. We value engineer rather than cost cut, never compromising on quality. We stick to our processes and engage with our supply chain to ensure that every product meets