Oxfordshire County Council operates approximately 60,000 streetlights across the county. Part-night lighting is an approach to reducing, or switching off, street lighting in an area for part of the night. It is intended to be used during the hours when the fewest people are using the streets. Part-night lighting isn’t new, it operates in many other parts of the UK and is already allowed for in our current street lighting and illuminated assets policy. 


We are proposing to introduce part-night lighting to improve the night-time environment for residents and wildlife, as well as energy and carbon reduction.


What this consultation is about

This framework is about how part-night lighting could be implemented in Oxfordshire. It is notabout whether part-night lighting is right for specific areas.


In September 2025, the council's cabinet will decide whether or not to move forward with part-night lighting. If the decision is to proceed, we are proposing that towns, parishes or Oxford city wards apply for part-night lighting schemes in their areas and that a public consultation is carried out for each scheme.


About the framework

The draft part night lighting framework proposes to introduce part night lighting in Oxfordshire locations where:

  • it is requested by the local town or parish council/meeting, or local governance authorities
  • the part night lighting exemption criteria does not apply 
  • local residents have been consulted via a public consultation, as well as stakeholders like the police, night economy employers and community groups 
  • the part night lighting scheme is approved at Oxfordshire Council Council's Delegated Decision by Cabinet Member for Transport Management


Tell us what you think about our draft part-night street lighting framework for Oxfordshire. Your feedback will help us to get this right for everyone.


We encourage you to read the proposed framework (or view it as an image) and the frequently asked questions carefully before answering the survey below:


Part-night lighting and street lighting policy | Let's Talk Oxfordshire










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