Why Lighting Matters: Stewart Langdown at the Healthy Homes and Buildings APPG Parliamentary Event

The session offered an important insight into the UK’s evolving approach to housing, infrastructure, and workplace standards, highlighting how good lighting underpins health, safety, and wellbeing across both residential and commercial spaces.

Key Takeaways from the Event

Residential Upgrades – The “Warm Homes” Initiative

The event reinforced the government’s commitment to improving residential infrastructure. Central to the discussion was the Warm Homes Initiative, a £15 million strategic plan to retrofit 5 million homes. The initiative focuses on areas with higher housing density—urban centres and large towns—rather than isolated rural developments, ensuring energy efficiency and comfort reach the greatest number of people.

Commercial & Workspace Parity

A major theme was the growing recognition that the standards applied to homes must also extend to workplaces. The Minister acknowledged that commercial and professional spaces should meet the same benchmarks for energy efficiency and wellbeing as residential environments. This shift is critical: workplaces are where many of us spend the majority of our day, and lighting plays a central role in creating healthy, productive environments.

Health & Environmental Quality

The event highlighted the intersection of infrastructure and public health. One pressing concern raised was the lack of adequate ventilation in modernised buildings. Poor airflow in “air-tight” energy-efficient designs could compromise the very health benefits these upgrades aim to deliver. Proper lighting, combined with good ventilation, helps create spaces where people feel safe, comfortable, and supported in their wellbeing.

Strategic Takeaway – The Role of Data

The overarching conclusion of the session was clear: data drives change. Without robust datasets, it is impossible to:

1. Identify areas that require urgent intervention.

2. Validate outcomes to ensure investments in homes and workplaces deliver real efficiency and health benefits.

Flying The LIA Flag

Stewart’s attendance at the event highlights the role The LIA plays in advocating for the lighting sector, ensuring that lighting is recognised as a fundamental element of healthy, safe, and sustainable environments. As a fire marshal and lighting professional, Stewart knows firsthand that lighting isn’t just about visibility—it’s about reassurance, safety, and guiding people in moments of uncertainty.

By representing The LIA, Stewart helps bridge the gap between industry expertise and policy-making, demonstrating how effective lighting solutions can support broader health, environmental, and infrastructure goals.

The Takeaway: Good lighting is more than illumination—it’s a critical part of creating healthier homes, safer workplaces, and sustainable communities. Events like the Healthy Homes and Buildings APPG Parliamentary session show that government, industry, and experts are increasingly aligned on this mission, and The LIA is proud to play a central role in that conversation.