Barnsley-based solicitors Ridley and Hall have secured a low-carbon grant to modernise the lighting system within their 200-year-old Church Street premises. The project, which successfully integrates modern energy efficiency into an 18th-century stone building, is projected to save the firm more than £1,400 annually in energy costs.

The upgrade involved replacing an ageing collection of fluorescent tubes with 65 LED fittings and smart motion sensors. The transition is expected to reduce the firm's annual electricity consumption by 4,000 kWh and cut carbon emissions by 0.86 tonnes per year.

The project was supported by a grant covering 40% of the £23,000 total cost, awarded through the Net Zero Barnsley programme. The initiative is delivered by The Business Village and funded via the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), administered by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Adam Fletcher, Business Development Director at Ridley and Hall, noted that the programme challenged the assumption that historic buildings are incompatible with modern green technology.

“Probably the most important thing the Net Zero Barnsley team did for us was dispel the myth that there was very little we could do to improve energy efficiency in our historic building. We now have lighter, brighter and cleaner office spaces for our staff and we’re reducing energy bills and carbon emissions significantly.”

The Church Street building, originally a headmaster’s residence for the adjacent Barnsley Grammar School, has served as a legal office for over a century. Kevin Steel, Business Development Manager at Net Zero Barnsley, described the move as a vital first step for professional service firms in the region.

“By replacing decades-old lighting with modern, cost-effective fittings, they’ve taken the first big step on their Net Zero journey to boost sustainability and profitability.”

Ridley and Hall, which acquired local firm Newman and Bond in 2021, plans further environmental investments, including the installation of EV charging points and exploring solar panel options behind the building's decorative facade.