{"id":20933,"date":"2015-10-30T09:32:41","date_gmt":"2015-10-30T09:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=20933"},"modified":"2015-10-30T09:33:03","modified_gmt":"2015-10-30T09:33:03","slug":"rights-light-glance-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/building-control-news\/rights-light-glance-2\/20933\/","title":{"rendered":"Your rights to light at a glance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tom Kibblewhite, Director for Watts Group PLC provides an explanation of the right to light and the differences with what is termed daylight and sunlight amenity\u2026<\/span><\/h2>\n

Skylines across the UK are once again punctuated with the signs of construction and development; tower cranes and scaffolding are a welcome sight to those of us in the property industry.<\/p>\n

All developments, whether an extension, adding additional storeys or a new building have their own site specific issues that need to be addressed. Where these works are undertaken in close proximity to neighbouring properties, then the effects of the scheme may need to be considered before starting on site.<\/p>\n

Increasingly, adjoining owners are raising the issue of the development\u2019s effect on their \u2018light\u2019 as a concern at consultation stage or claiming a right to the light. In a world where there is increasing awareness of the benefits of natural light and local sustainable solar power generation, it perhaps isn\u2019t that surprising.<\/p>\n

However, the concept of protecting your light is thousands of years old with references to rights to light appearing in Roman law.<\/p>\n

One area that causes much confusion is the two concepts of rights to light (also referred to as right of light) and daylight and sunlight amenity. Wrongly these are sometimes used interchangeably whereas they are, in fact, separate and distinct from one another.<\/p>\n

It is entirely possible to have satisfied the local planning authority that there are no significant concerns in terms of daylight and sunlight amenity, but still have a potential rights to light issue that could prevent the development proceeding.<\/p>\n

Set out below is a guide to the main differences between the two areas of light:<\/p>\n

Rights to light \u2013 Things you need to know<\/strong><\/p>\n