HDS Lighting was established from the experienced design team of Harttron Ltd, bringing forward a technical heritage that began in 1994. Today, HDS operates as a focused lighting consultancy, combining decades of project knowledge with modern design, environmental assessment, asset management and specialist infrastructure expertise.
Our history reflects continual development: from design consultancy and local authority support, through nationwide project delivery and technical innovation, to the specialist consultancy model HDS provides today.
Harttron began trading with lighting design and engineering at the heart of the business. The company joined the then Institution of Lighting Engineers — now the Institution of Lighting Professionals — beginning a professional association with the lighting industry that continues today.
Harttron worked with Tim Bosher, Bruce Jordan and Paul Wokes on the initial development of the Lighting Reality lighting design software. Our contribution included work on the DXF drawing input interface, helping designers bring CAD-based project information directly into the lighting calculation environment.
The business secured a major commission as a lighting design consultancy to Birmingham City Council ahead of its later PFI programme. The appointment strengthened our public-sector experience and established the team as a trusted provider of highway lighting design support.
Building on our involvement in the software's development, Harttron established and delivered the Lighting Reality lighting design training course. Once the course programme was successfully established, its delivery was transferred to others in 2005.
Continued growth led to expanded offices and a broader service offering. Alongside design, the team began managing installation works, allowing technical designs to be supported through procurement, construction and completion.
Harttron expanded into a dedicated depot with teams of designers, engineers and field operatives delivering lighting schemes across the UK. This period created a practical understanding of how lighting designs perform during installation, commissioning, maintenance and long-term operation.
A formal quality management system was introduced and independently audited through UKAS-accredited certification. Quality assurance became embedded in project delivery, document control, technical review and continual improvement — principles that remain central to HDS Lighting.
Across successive programmes, the team surveyed complete lighting inventories for more than 40 local authorities. Asset locations, photographs, condition data, electrical information and energy records were collected and prepared for integration into critical asset management systems.
The business contributed to lighting software and electronic design involving 868 MHz wireless mesh communications linked to DALI-controlled lighting equipment. The work included remote monitoring, control and energy-data processes, with systems progressing through relevant ELEXON and CE approval requirements.
Experience expanded across strategic highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, industrial environments, energy facilities, defence sites, architectural lighting and complex electrical infrastructure. The design team increasingly supported clients from feasibility through detailed design, construction and handover.
Harttron's established design and consultancy team transitioned into HDS Lighting Ltd — Harttron Design Services. The business was created to concentrate entirely on professional lighting consultancy, retaining the experience, technical knowledge and project records developed over the preceding three decades.
HDS expanded its product repertoire with lower-impact lighting solutions intended to help clients deliver environmentally sensitive projects. The range includes products designed to support lighting strategies developed in line with the Institution of Lighting Professionals' GN08 guidance, including warm-colour, controlled-output and responsive lighting options for areas used by bats and other nocturnal wildlife.
HDS Lighting now provides independent lighting design, assessment, surveying, reporting and technical support to local authorities, highway organisations, developers, contractors, architects and infrastructure clients throughout the UK.
The transition to HDS Lighting created a clear consultancy-led business. Our clients continue to benefit from the same technical heritage, historical project knowledge and experienced personnel, now dedicated solely to lighting design, assessment, surveying, reporting and professional project support.
HDS reflects our origins as Harttron Design Services while representing a modern, independent consultancy built around specialist lighting expertise.
Our background across design, surveying, installation management, controls and asset data gives HDS a practical understanding of the full lighting lifecycle.
We support projects from early feasibility through approval, detailed design, construction and completion.
Decades of large-scale survey work underpin our understanding of existing lighting networks and critical asset information.
Our technical history includes lighting software, remote communications and intelligent control systems.
HDS operates as a specialist consultant and technical agent on individual commissions and term contracts. We work alongside local authorities, highway organisations, developers, consultants and construction teams, providing dependable lighting expertise without the overhead of maintaining a permanent in-house specialist resource.
Design, surveys, asset reviews, technical reporting and project support for local authorities and highway organisations.
Approval-led design and consultancy for developers, civil engineers, contractors and multidisciplinary project teams.
Specialist lighting solutions for bridges, industrial facilities, energy projects, architectural schemes and complex environments.
Send HDS Lighting your drawings, brief or project requirements for an initial review by one of our experienced lighting engineers.
