16 April 2024
Our lighting team’s expertise has helped overturn objections and secure planning permission for a new design at a healthcare waste incineration unit in Worcestershire.
On behalf of a private client, we were commissioned to undertake an External Lighting Impact Assessment to address multiple consultee comments on an existing design. The industrial site, on the edge of Hanley Castle village and within the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, required security lighting and CCTV, including a specification to incorporate PIR sensors.
One of the drawbacks of these sensors is that they are either on full or not, which means potential harmful light sources for local residents and ecology, and a lack of adherence to international dark sky standards. Using 3D modelling, we designed a bespoke system whereby lights will be fitted with PIR sensors, but half will be switched off between 11pm – 7am and the other half will be dimly lit, only rising to 100% brightness when the sensor is tripped.
“To achieve this innovative solution we worked with the manufacturer, Thorn Lighting, to confirm dimmable versions were able to be produced,” explains our senior environmental consultant, Nathan Allen. “This avoids the nuisance of lights switching on and off throughout the night when triggered by wildlife but is enough of a deterrent to provide the necessary security levels.
“At committee, our revised lighting layout was approved with no objections from consultees.”
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