Daylight & sunlight.

Effect on surrounding buildings

New development can change the daylight and sunlight enjoyed by nearby homes, workplaces and other relevant buildings. We assess the existing and proposed conditions, identify rooms and windows that may warrant closer examination, and explain the significance of predicted changes in the context of the site and applicable planning guidance.

Early red-flag reviews can help establish whether a potential issue is material before the project team commits to a settled design. Detailed assessments may examine the relevant BRE measures and, where necessary, consider actual room layouts, uses, existing obstructions and other development proposals. The resulting advice distinguishes numerical outcomes from the practical planning judgement required.

Effect on surrounding amenity spaces

Sunlight to gardens, communal courtyards, playgrounds, terraces and other amenity areas is a separate consideration from daylight within a room. We consider existing sunlight availability, the potential change caused by a proposal and how an outdoor space is intended to be used.

Rather than presenting a percentage without context, we explain where losses occur, whether the retained sunlight is meaningful for the relevant users, and what design or landscape responses may help. Assessment can extend to both neighbouring amenity and amenity proposed within the new development.

Quality of light within new developments (including Class MA)

Good internal daylight and sunlight are important aspects of the design quality of new homes and other occupied spaces. We work alongside architects to review building massing, window design, internal layouts and neighbouring obstructions, including constrained, high-density and change-of-use projects.

This includes projects brought forward through permitted development and Class MA routes where natural-light considerations form part of the applicable prior approval requirements. We tailor the assessment to the relevant consenting route, planning policy and circumstances rather than assuming that a single generic test determines whether a scheme is acceptable.

Early feasibility and red-flag appraisal

At feasibility, pre-application and early design stages, we can provide proportionate high-level or red-flag reviews of the likely daylight and sunlight implications for surrounding buildings, amenity spaces and the development itself. We identify where further analysis or design testing would add value, helping the team focus time and fees on the decisions that matter most.

Final reporting is then constructed around a scheme and strategy the project team understands, avoiding repeated, lengthy reports after every design iteration.

Explore our cross-disciplinary feasibility and red-flag review service ↗

Technical assessments, Environmental Statements and reports

Depending on the project, services may include modelling, neighbouring-impact studies, assessments of light within the proposal, sunlight amenity studies, defensible planning reports, and appropriately scoped Environmental Statement chapters ↗ for EIA developments.

Reports are bespoke to the issues, audience and stage of the project, with findings explained in a way that supports planning submissions, consultation and decision making.

Solar matters within the daylight and sunlight service

Solar glint and glare ↗ considers reflections experienced by drivers, cyclists, rail operators, aviation interests and occupiers; solar convergence ↗ addresses potentially intensified reflected sunlight; and solar PV ↗ deals with solar availability, panel optimisation, shading and reflection issues.

These are distinct technical questions but sit under the practice’s overarching daylight and sunlight planning work.

A separate legal question: rights of light

Daylight and sunlight planning assessments do not determine a neighbouring owner’s private legal rights of light. A project may need both planning advice and a separate rights of light assessment ↗, with different evidence, options and strategic implications.