31 January 2023
For many years M-EC has been supporting clients to achieve planning by preparing lighting assessments and designs for applications and helping to discharge conditions. Over the last year, our lighting team have seen an increase in planning applications with conditions requesting either a lighting assessment for lighting impact on the night sky or a lighting design assessing the effects on light-sensitive species such as bats.
What are the conditions, when do they relate, and why are they now coming to the fore? Our lighting team provides an overview of the conditions and the reasons we see an increase In these requests.
An increase in lighting conditions, why is this?
Through the use of LED’s external lighting has evolved over the years to provide brighter, directional and cost-efficient alternatives to the previous halogen versions we used to see (The LED lights are also whiter in colour than the previous alternatives). As a result of this, it has become more apparent that whilst these lights provide a more cost-efficient alternative, if the design and orientation are not considered correctly, it can become a detriment to humans, light-sensitive species and provide excessive light pollution including to glare and light intrusion.
As a result, planning officers now consider the impact that existing or new light sources may have on the surrounding areas to avoid harm to wildlife, disturbance to humans, or undermining the enjoyment of the countryside or night sky. If the impact and designs haven’t been considered before planning, a condition notice will likely be served.
Is it a requirement to do a lighting impact assessment before planning?
No, however, if you are in a dark skies area such as a national park, I.e. the South Downs or a rural countryside location, your local authority may stipulate that this is a requirement.
Each local authority deals with lighting differently, so we advise you to review your local authorities’ planning guidance, the majority of local authorities will require a lighting assessment as part of their validation list if floodlights are being installed (sports pitches, industrial/commercial units).
Considering lighting prior to a planning submission can reduce timescales and hold up by avoiding a planning condition notice.
When does external light need to be considered?
Artificial light needs to be considered when development may increase the lighting levels or if a development would be sensitive to the existing lighting levels. Whilst lighting provides a benefit to society, for maximum benefit, it is essential to get the right light, in the right place, to be used at the right time.
Is it just residential developments that are likely to be conditioned?
No, our team are seeing condition notices being served for residential and commercial/mixed-use applications.
What are the conditions we should be looking for on current applications?
The majority of planning decision notices now contain one of the following planning conditions concerning lighting and either requesting; a detailed lighting design containing a lux plan (No3) or a wildlife-sensitive lighting scheme to protect bats or other light-sensitive wildlife (No 16 & 27).
How can M-EC help and support?
As the development proposals are more or less fixed at the planning stage, a focused, detailed approach is needed, and this is where M-EC can help. We have years of experience producing lighting impact assessments and designs to help discharge the conditions mentioned on a wide range of projects across the UK. We work alongside project engineers, architects and ecologists to find a cost-effective balance between the need for lighting and ensuring enough information is provided to discharge these conditions.
If you see any lighting planning conditions on your decision notices, M-EC is here to help; contact our team on the details below. Nathan Allen
nathan.allen@m-ec.co.uk
01530 264753
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