Athletics Track LED Lighting Contractor UK
PPG Projects installs LED floodlighting systems for athletics tracks serving community clubs, local authorities, and professional athletics facilities across the UK. Our team has completed athletics lighting installations at Cleavley Athletics Track in Salford, delivered in partnership with Salford City Council and Salford Community Leisure, and at Berry Hill Athletics Track in Mansfield, part of a large-scale facility refurbishment for Mansfield Harriers Athletics Club.
We are SAPCA-accredited and work to England Athletics guidance on all our athletics track installations. Our in-house engineers manage every stage of the project, including site survey, lighting design, groundworks, mast and luminaire installation, lux level verification, and commissioning.
Speak to our team today for a free site survey and no-obligation quote.
Athletics Track Lighting Case Studies
Cleavley Athletics Track, Salford
Cleavley Athletics Track in Salford was a vital community resource operating with failing, ageing floodlights that were creating safety hazards and limiting the facility’s usability for evening training. PPG Projects was appointed to deliver a full LED floodlighting upgrade, working in partnership with Lumosa Lighting, Salford City Council, and Salford Community Leisure.
The project presented significant logistical challenges. The track’s location near a busy motorway meant access was restricted, with narrow entry routes making delivery of the 15-metre lighting columns particularly difficult. Installation was carried out during winter months, with the team adapting to poor weather conditions throughout. Mid-project, design adjustments were required to relocate some columns and recalibrate lux levels to ensure even light distribution with no dark spots.
The completed installation transformed the facility. Salford Harriers and other local clubs can now train safely at any time of day. Danielle Tudor of Salford Community Leisure said: the feedback has been incredible, everyone says how wonderful the lights are, and it is engaging young people. The track is now being used in the evenings, which was previously impossible.
Berry Hill Athletics Track, Mansfield
Berry Hill Athletics Track in Mansfield was operated by Mansfield District Council, with ageing facilities that had declined significantly. Mansfield Harriers Athletics Club secured a 7-year lease from the Council, which enabled grant funding to be secured for a full facility refurbishment. PPG Projects was commissioned to upgrade the electrical contractor board and switching, carry out a replacement cable run including groundworks, treat and repaint the existing column bases, and upgrade all 29 floodlights to LED athletics luminaires.
The project was carried out within a busy public park, requiring careful management of public safety and CDM compliance throughout. The project also formed part of a wider refurbishment programme, and a promotional video of the PPG Projects installation works was filmed for the lighting supplier, who holds official lighting partner status with England Athletics.
Our Athletics Track Lighting Services
Site Survey and Photometric Design
We begin with a free site assessment covering track dimensions, column positions, existing infrastructure, and your specific usage requirements. Our engineers produce a full photometric design with lux level calculations confirming compliance with England Athletics guidance before any work begins.
LED Floodlight Installation
All installation work is carried out by our in-house mechanical and electrical engineers, including groundworks, mast installation, cabling, luminaire fitting, and commissioning. As the Cleavley and Berry Hill projects demonstrate, our team is experienced in working around logistical constraints, tight access routes, and complex site conditions.
Column Refurbishment and Partial Upgrades
Where existing masts are structurally sound, we can refurbish and reuse them, replacing luminaires only. At Berry Hill, we cleaned and galvanised the existing column bases as part of the scope, significantly extending their serviceable life. This approach can substantially reduce project costs compared to a full mast replacement.
Lux Level Testing and Compliance Documentation
We carry out full lux level testing on completion and provide compliance documentation for England Athletics or Sport England submission. Where facilities are used for competition, we design to the appropriate standard and verify results before handover.
Funding Support
Athletics clubs and local authorities can often access grant funding through Sport England, local sports foundations, and council leisure funds. We guide clients through the funding process and provide the technical documentation that applications require.
England Athletics Lighting Standards
England Athletics provides guidance on lux levels and uniformity requirements for athletics facilities. As a general guide:
Community and club training
A minimum of 75-100 lux average horizontal illuminance is typically required for safe training use.
Club competition
Higher lux levels and specified uniformity ratios are required for competitive fixtures.
Regional and national competition venues
More stringent requirements apply, with specific guidance available from England Athletics on request.
PPG Projects designs to the appropriate standard for your facility’s intended use. If you are unsure what lux level you need, we can advise following a free site survey.
Why Athletics Clubs and Local Authorities Choose PPG Projects
SAPCA-accredited
Meeting the industry standard for sports lighting installation.
Proven track record in athletics
Completed projects at Cleavley (Salford), Berry Hill (Mansfield), and other athletics facilities across the UK.
Experience with complex sites
From public parks requiring CDM compliance to restricted access sites needing specialist logistics, our team has handled it.
Column refurbishment capability
We can often extend the life of existing infrastructure, reducing project costs significantly.
Funding guidance included
We support clubs and local authorities through the grant funding process from start to finish.
10-year warranty
All PPG Projects installations are covered by a 10-year warranty on parts and performance.
Frequently Asked Question
The cost depends on the size of the facility, number of columns, LED specification, and groundworks required. A refurbishment upgrading existing columns with new luminaires, as at Berry Hill, is significantly less expensive than a full installation from scratch. A free site survey will allow us to provide an accurate, itemised quote. Grant funding through Sport England and local authority schemes can substantially reduce the net cost.
In many cases, yes. If the existing columns are structurally sound, replacing the luminaires only is a cost-effective option. We assess column condition during the site survey and advise whether refurbishment or full replacement is the better approach.
England Athletics guidance sets out recommended lux levels based on intended use. For community training, 75-100 lux is typically the starting point. For competition use, higher levels and specific uniformity ratios apply. We design to the correct standard for your facility and verify the results with post-installation testing.
Yes. Sport England, local authority leisure funds, and athletics-specific funding streams can all contribute to floodlighting projects for qualifying facilities. Our team can advise on the most suitable routes and support the application process.
Yes. We have experience working directly with local authorities including Salford City Council, and we understand the procurement, compliance, and reporting requirements involved. Contact us to discuss your project.
Get a Free Quote for Your Athletics Track Lighting Project
Whether you manage a community athletics facility, a club-owned track, or a council leisure site, PPG Projects has the experience and accreditation to deliver a compliant, high-performance floodlighting system.
Contact us today for a free site survey and no-obligation quote. Our team will assess your track, confirm achievable lux levels, and advise on funding opportunities available to your project.