Daylight & Sunlight Surveyor
As specialist Daylight & Sunlight surveyors, we model neighbour impact and proposed unit quality using BRE 209, delivering officer-friendly reports, drawings and mitigation that protect design value and programme
What a Daylight & Sunlight surveyor does
We assess your scheme under BRE 209 to quantify effects on neighbouring daylight/sunlight and (where scoped) the internal daylight of new homes, plus overshadowing of open space. We provide design feedback (setbacks, step-backs, chamfers, layout tweaks) and a planning narrative aligned to local policy.
2-4 Ringers Road, Bromley
Wadworth Brewery, New Park Street
360, 17 Marlborough Street, Bristol
At-a-glance
| Topic | Neighbouring Daylight | Neighbouring Sunlight | Internal Daylight (Proposed) | Overshadowing (Open Space) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metrics | VSC, NSL | APSH | DF/UDI/NSDTM (as agreed) | BRE sunlight to amenity spaces |
| Purpose | Protect neighbours’ daylight | Protect neighbours’ sunlight to main rooms | Demonstrate quality of proposed rooms | Assess sun to gardens/courtyards |
| Typical triggers | Massing close to windows | South-facing impacts | New dwellings; design quality audits | Tall/long forms near amenity space |
| Design levers | Setbacks, step-backs, chamfers | Setbacks, local height trims | Window size/position, layout & reflectance | Height trims, gaps, orientation tweaks |
| Outputs | Tables, drawings, narrative | Tables, drawings, narrative | Room schedules, diagrams | Plans/diagrams with % compliance |
Why appointment a surveyor
- Officer-friendly reports that de-risk validation and committee.
- Actionable modelling: change only what moves VSC/NSL/APSH or internal daylight.
- Neighbour relations: transparent schedules and visuals reduce objections.
- Speed & consistency: scoped to your LPA, with fast addendums for late tweaks
Faq
Got questions about right to light in London?
Below are answers to the most common right to light questions we receive from London homeowners, architects and developers covering law, process, fees and what to send us.
No. BRE is for planning amenity; Right to Light is a legal easement. Many London schemes require both.
Neighbouring: VSC/NSL (daylight) and APSH (sunlight where relevant). Proposed units: DF/UDI/NSDTM as agreed with your LPA.
Yes. We align overshadowing with VSC/NSL/APSH and, where relevant, Right to Light so narratives don’t conflict.
Existing/proposed plans, sections, elevations, storey heights, roof forms/dormers; DWG helps, scaled PDFs are acceptable.
Yes. We support officers and committees with concise visuals and narrative.