Walsall was the first major street lighting renewal project to be awarded under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). It shows a new way for Councils to modernise their street lighting equipment in a very cost efficient way, which helps to keep Council Tax as low as possible.
The Walsall Public Lighting contract started in April 2002 and is for 26 years.

The Walsall Public Lighting PFI is wholly owned by John Laing. The key operational services subcontractor to the Special Purpose Company is Amey.

The project’s success as a pathfinder Public Lighting project was recognised by the project team’s award of the ‘Best Transport Project 2003’ at the Public Private Finance awards in London. The organisers of the awards recognised the Walsall Public Lighting PFI for “providing a cornerstone for regeneration and creating a well lit environment that encourages people back onto the streets during the evenings for social activities”.

The project recently received a commendation in the 2006 Annual Public Service Excellence Awards.