Brighton's best known landmark will soon be seen in a different light. 

Multinational lighting company Phillips is installing exterior lighting to the Royal Pavilion .

The new scheme will illuminate the building’s Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture and pick out individual details.

When it is complete, VisitBrighton, the tourism arm of Brighton and Hove City Council , hopes to use it to bathe the 19th century structure in the modern logos of corporate clients who can hire the Pavilion for private events.

Only half of the old external lighting is currently working and it is beyond repair. The security lighting is currently being used to illuminate the Moorish-influenced architecture on the world-famous building.

Claire Ottewell, chairman of the Brighton and Hove Tourism Alliance, welcomed the development.

She said: “This will shine a light on our city and must be welcomed. Not only will this make the jewels in our tourist offer more attractive it will help to improve security.

“Anything which helps to make our visitors feel safer and which boosts the tourism sector at this difficult time is a good thing.”

But details are dim on the timings and cost of the scheme.

A spokesman for the council said that the switch-on date has not yet been decided and said that he could not reveal how much the project would cost.

The Argus has submitted a Freedom of Information request for these details and will publish the answer when it is received.

The spokesman said: “It will be much more energy- efficient than any previous set-up. We will literally be showing off this icon of the city in the best possible light.

“We want to plan a launch when it can be unveiled for the best interests of the city, tourism and business and that’s not been finalised yet.

“But it will be within a few months – something to brighten the city as the nights draw in.”