Woolwich Town Centre, London
Michael Grubb Studio
Woolwich Town Centre, London
Michael Grubb Studio
The thoughtful illumination of the revitalised Woolwich Town Centre has a a Build Back Better GOLD Award in the lighting category for Michael Grubb Studio.
The scheme demonstrates how lighting can do far more than provide light for a public space: it can reconnect a place with its history, strengthen civic identity and help a community reclaim its town centre after dark.
At Beresford Square, the existing lighting was functional but had become part of the problem.
A large catenary system provided uniform illumination yet visually fragmented the square, obscured its architectural setting and restricted the flexibility needed for markets, events and community activity. Rather than simply replacing like-for-like, the project rethought lighting as part of the wider public realm.
The key innovation was a layered approach that combines a small number of carefully positioned 10m columns with integrated low-level lighting to steps, handrails, benches, planting and the water feature.
This removed overhead clutter, released the square for more flexible use and created a calmer, more human-scale nighttime environment. The columns also incorporate power provision for market traders and events, allowing lighting infrastructure to support the wider social and economic life of the square.
Creatively, the scheme responds to Woolwich’s historic character rather than imposing a new visual identity.
A consistent warm 2700K palette creates intimacy and continuity, while carefully focused architectural lighting reveals important heritage assets, including the Grade II listed Royal Arsenal Gatehouse.
The result is a distinctive nighttime character that celebrates the town’s past while making the public realm feel contemporary, welcoming and relevant.
Social purpose is central to the project. Improved legibility, layered illumination and greater visual openness enhance perceptions of safety, while seating, gardens and focal lighting encourage people to pause, meet and spend time in the square beyond market hours.
Lighting helps transform Beresford Square from a transient space into a genuine evening destination.
Environmental responsibility is embedded through efficient, controllable lighting, precise optical control and a deliberate reduction in unnecessary spill. Feature lighting is switched off from 11pm until dawn, reducing energy use and disturbance to the nocturnal environment.
The existing catenary system was carefully assessed for retention before replacement, while the new multi-purpose infrastructure was designed for adaptability and long-term use, reducing the likelihood of future duplication or unnecessary intervention.
The end result is a placemaking-led project that uses light to reveal Woolwich’s heritage, strengthen community life and create a more flexible, welcoming and sustainable civic space for the future.
Project Credits:
The Royal Borough of Greenwich
Landscape Architect: LDA Design
Lighting Design: Michael Grubb Studio
Contractor: ECF (Community Engagement), Elite Landscapes, Studio Bosk (Delivery), Fountains Direct (Water Feature)
Project Management: Hadron Consulting
Services Engineers: Civic (Civil Engineering)
Photographer: Mike Massaro
