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Attaching items to street lights

You need a licence to attach any item to a street light, including a plaque, banner, flag, or sign. We need to assess the street light to make sure it can support the item, as well as making sure the highway remains safe and uncluttered.

If a street light already has an item attached, a separate licence is needed for any additional items. If a licence is granted, this will be temporary or for a specific period of time. It won't allow an item to be attached permanently.

To attach a poppy to a street light as part of Remembrance Day activities, see our webpage about attaching Remembrance Day poppies to street lights.

Any item attached to a street light without a licence may be removed under the Highways Act 1980.

Who can apply for a licence

Any person, group or organisation can apply for a street light attachment licence. If you want to attach a highway infrastructure item, such as a camera, sensor, signal relay etc, you can only apply if you're a recognised organisation who works with us.

Items you can apply to attach

You can apply to attach an item to a street light such as a plaque, banner, flag, hanging basket, event signage, or festival lighting. Any messaging plaques, flags, banners or signs must not:

  • be political
  • cause public offence
  • suggest bias on behalf of the council
  • affect the integrity and reputation of the council
  • negatively target a group or individual

Items we won't grant a licence for

We won't grant a licence for a street light attachment if:

  • the item is a litter or dog waste bin
  • the sight lines to traffic signals, traffic signs, and other important highway infrastructure would be blocked
  • the item would be distracting to road users (eg if it has flashing lights)
  • the lighting column is constructed of concrete, cast iron, aluminium, or is passively safe (designed to collapse or detach in a controlled manner during a crash)
  • the lighting column is a heritage style fitted with an embellishment kit
  • the lighting column is hinged
  • bunting, hanging cables, or rope would be attached from one lighting column to another
  • an electrical item is already attached to the lighting column (including an illuminated traffic sign)

Items needing an electricity supply

We won't cover the cost of any electricity used by an item attached to a street light. If the item you want to attach needs an electricity supply, you'll need to get an unmetered supply certificate from Northern Powergrid to register with a supplier to charge you for the energy used.

Structural testing

A structural test must be carried out on a street lighting column before any item is attached. This can only  be carried out by our approved contractor. You'll need to pay a fee for the structural test to be completed, which is dependent on the column type and the proposed item to be attached.

You'll need to tell us the unique reference number for each street light column you want to attach an item to. This reference is stencilled on the lighting column. If you're unsure of a reference, please contact us online.

Before you apply

Before submitting your licence application and requesting a structural test, you can ask for a simple suitability check for a proposed item and street light. Contact us online to request a check. Please note: this check is a feasibility check only and doesn't mean your licence application will be accepted.

How to apply

To apply for a licence, fill in our street lighting attachment application and checklist and email these with your supporting documents to streetlightingdesign@barnsley.gov.uk.

In the application form you'll need to provide the following details about the attachment:

  • type and solidity
  • overall dimensions, offset amount to column centre line, and weight
  • proposed mounting method and height to the underside of the item
  • electrical requirements and loading

You need to submit your application and documents at least 8 weeks before your proposed installation date. For a traffic sensitive road you need to do this 12 weeks before.

Supporting documents you need to provide

You need to include the following support documents with your application:

  • information of the attachment and its mounting position
  • a site-specific risk assessment
  • structural testing report  
  • an installation method statement
  • traffic management plan and evidence of New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) signing and guarding accreditation if on a traffic sensitive road
  • maintenance plan stating how the attachment will be maintained
  • public liability insurance certificate to a value of £10 million 
  • professional insurance to a value of approximately £5 million
  • emergency plan, including 24-hour availability contact details
  • decommissioning plan stating how the attachment will be removed

If you request a connection to a street light electrical supply you also need to provide:

  • evidence of competency for each person carrying out work on the highway: G39/1 accreditation, Highway Electrical Registration Details (HERS), NICEIC registration details for street lighting (electrical only)
  • evidence you've made arrangements to pay for the energy used (eg unmetered supply certificate), and electrical testing certificate in accordance with BS 7671
  • statement regarding whether your design conforms with the Highway Electrical Standard

What happens next

We'll decide the outcome of your street lighting attachment application within 8 to 12 weeks. We'll tell you whether:

  • your application has been approved
  • an alternative location should be considered
  • more time is needed for us to consider your application
  • your request has been rejected, along with the reason why

If your application is approved we'll grant you a licence to attach an item to a specific street light. The licence will last for one or two years. If you've requested an attachment to a street light which has been upgraded to hold the attachment, we may grant a longer term licence of six years.

More information

See our street lighting attachments guidance for more details about applying for a licence, application reviews, installation requirements, and licence expiry.