How do I move / remove a Lamppost outside my Property?
For many people lampposts can be both unsightly and annoying. Most streets and roads of the UK will have a line of lampposts each side to illuminate the road and walkways, street lights with a height of 5-6m on a residential estate roads and 8-12m on main traffic routes. Many are being converted over to LED units from the standard old yellow lighting which provide much better lighting (directing most of the light rays downwards instead of annoyingly in to properties) and less electricity usage / maintenance.
It can be seen as a slight disadvantage in having a lamppost (or telephone post) outside your property in that your property is permanently lit at night and that you have a permanent, unmovable fixture outside. Others will prefer that there is a lamppost outside in that for security and safety reasons. Most lampposts, especially down residential roads, will turn off (or dim) after midnight / 1am and remain off until early morning around 6am depending on time of the year.
“More and more LED units are being installed which makes a big difference to light quality and direction.”
Sometimes the positioning of lamppost can be a dilemma for property owners and especially when they need moving. Depending on your local authority / council and your reasons, there will be a set cost for moving an active lamppost depending on the size of job required. Many councils will state ‘we will investigate alternative locations for the street light and if movement is possible‘.
Varied prices are mentioned when you research online and there are many forums with people quoting costs they incurred. Checking my local county council website the following information is provided with regards to moving lampposts:
Up to 2.0m from existing location Approximately £2500 – £3000
From 2.0m to 4.0m from existing location Approximately £3000 – £4000
To move a column 4.0m plus from existing location Bespoke quote required
There is also a quote to state that the job can take up to 16 – 18 weeks to complete upon receipt of money. source Essex Highways
You certainly should not look to remove or move a lamppost from outside your property yourself as this will be an illegal action and this includes even if the lamppost in question is attached to or within the boundary of your land. You should check through your property deeds to see if there are any mentions of lampposts belonging to the authority that sit on your land and what guidelines were set.
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