Sheppard Street Underpass

The Sheppard Street Underpass was originally part of the North Wiltshire Canal, a vital waterway that played a significant role in Swindon’s history. The canal’s functionality attracted Great Western Railway (GWR) to establish their base in Swindon, as it was used to transport essential materials like coal and stone for the railway. However, as the railway expanded, the canal’s profitability declined, leading to its eventual closure.

Upgrading Existing Lighting

Recognising the need for an upgrade, Swindon Borough Council decided to modernise the underpass by enhancing its lighting and adding a creative touch. They appointed Sutton Vane Associates to design a new lighting scheme that would combine functionality with creativity. With extensive experience in lighting public spaces, Sutton Vane Associates developed an innovative design for the underpass that offers an immersive experience.

The new lighting design features “title sequences” at both entrances of the underpass, visible from either direction, telling the story of the underpass’s history. These titles are displayed on the first two white light fixtures at each end, using a typeface commonly found on narrowboats, which underscores the underpass’s historical connection to the canal. Inside the underpass, coloured lighting fixtures create rippling effects in shades of blue, green, and turquoise, simulating the movement of water in the canal. A red light, representing a narrowboat, moves slowly along one side of the underpass and returns on the other, matching the colour of a narrowboat depicted in a mural at one end.

Due to the low height of the underpass, all lighting equipment had to be highly resistant to potential vandalism. The structure also supports an active railway line, imposing specific restrictions on the placement and attachment of lights. To meet these requirements, Sutton Vane Associates collaborated with Designplan. We developed specialised luminaires, including our Tuscan 89 Angled for the white lights and our FlairMicro for coloured lights. Both were designed to withstand the underpass’s environment, with high IP and IK ratings and a special coating to resist graffiti. We also supplied dummy bodies to join the luminaires together and to fix the lighting solution onto the walls.

Our involvement extended to producing and testing prototypes, which were essential for approval from Swindon council officers. The manufacturing of luminaires in the UK reduced the project’s carbon footprint and enabled the various stakeholders to quickly and easily communicate design ideas and innovations.

The new lighting scheme has transformed the underpass into a visually engaging space, making it a more enjoyable experience for those who pass through it.

Control Systems

The lighting control system installed made use of both DALI and DMX control protocols to communicate to the Designplan fittings . DMX control was used for creating the specific colours required for the rippling effect of the accent lighting . The main lighting ( Tuscan 99 ) was DALI controlled and the system programmed to minimise energy use whilst keeping the right light output during the day and night .