Free 15 Minute Daylight & Sunlight Scheme Review:
Specialist planning support for small London practices working on constrained sites..
Overview
Planning for Sustainability supports small London practices on live schemes where daylight, sunlight and Right of Light could shape massing, neighbour impacts or planning risk.
We help teams balance amenity, density and design quality using robust daylight and sunlight methodology, applied with professional judgement to reflect local context and design circumstances. Early awareness of Right of Light risk sits alongside this, helping avoid surprises later in the process.
If you have a scheme in play, we offer a free 15-minute initial review to sense-check likely pinch-points and outline proportionate next steps.
Why We’re Offering This
On densely built London sites, daylight and sunlight issues can arise quickly. They can shape massing, neighbour impacts and the overall planning narrative earlier than teams expect.
A short early conversation can save time later. This free initial review is a straightforward way to flag risks and opportunities before they become design constraints or planning objections.
Understanding the Planning and Legal Context
Daylight and sunlight requirements form an essential part of the planning process. Most London local planning authorities refer directly to the BRE guidance — “Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight” — as the accepted methodology and set of criteria for assessing daylight and sunlight effects.
The BRE criteria allow for professional judgement and flexibility to respond to local context and design circumstances, while maintaining the underlying principles of good daylight and sunlight design.
At the same time, it’s important to understand how this planning framework interacts with Right of Light, which is a private legal matter between property owners. While the two systems have different purposes, good design practice recognises that they overlap: early awareness of both helps teams avoid risk, anticipate constraints, and design with confidence through planning and beyond.
How We Can Help
What We Can Support You With
- Early feasibility advice on massing and layout where daylight and sunlight may be sensitive
- Identifying likely planning pinch-points before a scheme is fixed
- Understanding where planning light impacts and Right of Light risk intersect — and why both should be considered in tandem
- Clear, proportionate recommendations on what level of analysis is needed next
The most successful projects don’t just meet the numbers — they understand what the numbers mean.
Who It’s For
- Small and emerging architectural practices
- London infill, retrofit and constrained redevelopment teams
- Projects heading toward planning where neighbour light impacts may arise
- Any practice wanting early clarity on daylight/sunlight or Right of Light risk
Have a scheme where light impacts might matter?
Get in touch to discuss your project.
