Question 1

How much does garden lighting cost in Eastbourne?

Accepted Answer

Most Eastbourne schemes we install fall between £500 and £5,000+. A small rear-garden scheme with a handful of fittings typically starts from around £500. A full front-garden and driveway design with path lights, spike spots and a couple of tree uplights usually lands between £2,500 and £4,500. Larger whole-garden designs across Meads or Ratton with feature uplighting, terrace lighting and multiple zones start from £5,000. The final figure depends on fitting count, cable-run length, whether we're going 12V or mains, and how much groundwork is involved.

Question 2

What guarantee do I get?

Accepted Answer

Fitting bodies are guaranteed 10 years against corrosion (25 on bronze), lenses for life, LED modules 5 years, and our workmanship 2 years. It's all written into your quote, and we register the manufacturer warranties in your name.

Question 3

Do I pay a deposit?

Accepted Answer

Not until you've seen and approved the lighting plan and fixed price. Once you're happy with it, we take a deposit to order the fittings and book the install date.

Question 4

Do coastal properties in Eastbourne really need marine-grade fittings?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and it makes a bigger difference than most homeowners realise. Salt-laden air off the Channel corrodes standard aluminium and mild-steel garden fittings within two to four years, especially in Meads, Sovereign Harbour and anything within half a mile of the seafront. We specify marine-grade 316 stainless steel, solid brass or bronze fixtures with sealed IP65+ housings so the scheme still looks the way you paid for it a decade later. Some manufacturers shorten or exclude their warranty for coastal installs. The fittings we specify don't, which is why we can guarantee them for 10 years this close to the sea.

Question 5

12V low-voltage vs mains — which is better for a garden?

Accepted Answer

For almost every residential garden we design in Eastbourne we use 12V low-voltage. It's safer to install and to work around later (no Part P notification for the garden run), fittings are physically smaller and more discreet, and cable can be laid at shallower depth. We reserve 240V mains for architectural facade lighting, larger floodlights and long driveway runs where voltage drop becomes a factor.

Question 6

Are these lights energy efficient?

Accepted Answer

Every fitting we install is LED. A typical 20-fitting garden scheme draws roughly 60–100 watts total when it's fully on — less than a single old halogen floodlight. We wire schemes through a photocell and timer or a smart controller so the lights come on at dusk and switch off at a set time, which keeps running costs to a few pounds a month even used nightly.

Question 7

Do I need planning permission for garden lighting?

Accepted Answer

For domestic garden lighting in Eastbourne — path lights, spike spots, tree uplighting, patio and deck lighting — you do not need planning permission. The exceptions are listed buildings (any fixing to the building itself needs listed building consent) and properties inside the South Downs National Park boundary above Willingdon, where external lighting on the building should be considerate of dark-sky guidance. We advise on both during the survey.

Question 8

How long does installation take?

Accepted Answer

A typical rear-garden scheme is installed in 1–2 days. A front garden and driveway usually takes 2–3 days depending on how much cable needs to be trenched under lawn or gravel. Larger whole-property schemes run to 4–6 days. Everything is tested, aimed and programmed at the end of the install before we hand it over.

Garden lighting questions we get asked in Eastbourne

Common questions