The way that urban spaces, such as social housing estates, are lit reinforce the increasing levels of inequality faced by cities, says a new report by the Configuring Light research programme, based at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

According to the research, the over-illumination of social housing estates – to allow for better CCTV surveillance and the prevention of anti-social behaviour and crime – mark some spaces out as less valuable and even threatening or risky, deterring people from using and enjoying these spaces.

In contrast, in more affluent neighbourhoods or expensive designer developments, light is used as a design tool to create an aesthetically pleasurable nightscape which appears valuable, safer and more inviting.

This leads to a sense of segregation between urban areas, as well as preventable high energy and maintenance costs for social housing lighting.

Dr Don Slater, associate professor of Sociology at LSE and co-founder of Configuring Light, said: “While not all urban spaces need highly aestheticized lighting schemes, good lighting design can help build social inclusion and civic life across urban spaces and create places that are engaging, accessible and comfortable for everyone who shares them.”

The report，Tackling Social Inequalities in Public Lighting，maps out new strategies to tackle lighting inequalities by drawing on a series of expert roundtable meetings, hosted by the Configuring Light programme. These explored how social research and cross-disciplinary collaboration could help address lighting issues.

The report recommends that lighting needs should be fully recognised as a strategic part of urban policy and planning and designed with all users and uses of spaces in mind – including those that may be marginalised or excluded.

Public lighting strategies should also be responsive to changes in use, such as throughout the seasons, and tap into the potential of cheaper more responsive lighting technologies.