If you’re developing in an urban or residential area, understanding how your project impacts natural light is critical. That’s where daylight and sunlight consultants come in. Their expertise can mean the difference between a smooth planning process and costly redesigns due to objections from neighbours or planning officers.
In this guide, we explore what daylight and sunlight consultants actually do, when you need one, and how their input ensures your development complies with planning policy and BRE guidelines.
What Do Daylight and Sunlight Consultants Do?
Daylight and sunlight consultants are specialists who assess the impact a new development will have on natural light to surrounding buildings—and the light levels within your proposed scheme. These assessments are often required by local planning authorities to demonstrate that your project won’t result in unacceptable overshadowing, reduced daylight, or loss of sunlight for neighbours.
At Hawkins Environmental, we provide detailed daylight and sunlight assessments that follow the BRE 209 Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight guidance. Our reports support planning applications by offering technical clarity and defensible analysis.
When Is a Daylight and Sunlight Assessment Required?
You’ll usually need an assessment if your development:
- Is located near existing residential properties
- May affect window access to daylight or sunlight for neighbouring buildings
- Is over a certain height or footprint that could result in overshadowing
- Is likely to reduce light to gardens, terraces, or amenity spaces
- Involves changes in massing or layout in tight urban settings
Local authorities often request these reports during pre-application or formal submission stages. Being proactive and commissioning a study early avoids planning delays and helps resolve objections.
What Standards Do Consultants Follow?
Our reports follow BRE 209 (2022 edition)—the industry-standard guidance for assessing daylight, sunlight, and overshadowing. Key metrics we assess include:
- Vertical Sky Component (VSC): Measures daylight received by windows
- Annual Probable Sunlight Hours (APSH): Measures sunlight availability
- Daylight Distribution (DD): Assesses natural light across interior rooms
- Shadowing studies: Review sunlight access to external amenity spaces
By conducting accurate VSC and APSH calculations, we ensure your scheme is tested fairly against measurable criteria, helping to reassure planners and neighbours alike.
Why You Need a Daylight and Sunlight Consultant
Engaging daylight and sunlight consultants early in your design process ensures your proposal balances development potential with good design standards and neighbourly planning.
Key benefits include:
- Avoid planning refusals due to loss of light objections
- Maximise site potential while remaining policy-compliant
- Address neighbour concerns with factual evidence
- Meet BRE and local authority guidelines
- Optimise internal daylight levels for quality living environments
At Hawkins Environmental, we work closely with architects and planning teams to refine layouts and massing during pre-application and design stages—saving time and cost later on.
Our Daylight and Sunlight Consultants Services
We offer:
- BRE-compliant daylight and sunlight reports
- Overshadowing assessments for gardens, courtyards, and play areas
- Daylight impact assessments for new residential or commercial schemes
- Sunlight availability reports for south-facing windows
Whether you’re designing a single dwelling or a multi-storey mixed-use scheme, our consultants provide tailored support to help your project proceed smoothly.
Learn more: Daylight & Sunlight Assessments
Call us: 01256 522332
Email: enquiry@hawkinsenvironmental.co.uk
Daylight and Sunlight Consultants FAQs
Q1: Are daylight and sunlight assessments a legal requirement?
A1: While not a legal requirement, many UK local authorities insist on these assessments as part of the planning process—particularly in dense urban areas or where neighbour impact is expected.
Q2: What is the difference between daylight and sunlight assessments?
A2: Daylight assessments measure the quantity of natural light in a room, while sunlight assessments evaluate direct sunlight access—typically to south-facing windows or gardens.
Q3: Can poor results in an assessment block my planning application?
A3: Not necessarily. Local authorities take a balanced view. If shortfalls are minor or unavoidable, strong design reasoning and mitigation (e.g., setbacks or materials) may still allow approval.