Between 2005 and 2006, Speirs + Major prepared a major lighting strategy for Durham City Council, Durham County Council and One North East. This was informed by an original vision by David Locke Associates which set out a sensitive redevelopment of this famous historic city for the new millennium.

The lighting study became known as the Light and Darkness Strategy, based on the idea that Durham’s remarkable night-time environment is as much determined by its dark, natural landscape as by the illumination of its iconic sites – such as the 12th-century cathedral and castle and the famous system of narrow alleys known as the Vennels that make up the fabric of the city.

The aim of the Light and Darkness Strategy was to provide a creative and technical framework by which the true potential of Durham can be realised once darkness falls - to create an urban environment that is as charming and spectacular after dark as it is by day.

Components of the strategy include upgrading all streetlighting (including a delineation through colour temperature of primary and secondary roads); illuminating the city’s bridges, and creating an events infrastructure allowing Durham to use its state-of-the-art lighting to host a variety of events.

The strategy has established a vision of how Durham could be relit over time, not only to enhance the image of the city, provide safety and security, and facilitate the night-time economy, but also to ensure this is done in a sustainable manner. As relighting takes place, light pollution will be greatly reduced to provide a clear view of the night sky and avoid any potentially adverse impacts on the local biodiversity.

The strategy was successfully unveiled in August 2007. It is anticipated that major changes to the lighting infrastructure of Durham will be implemented over the next decade based on this study.