CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION
Night time illumination of buildings and sites is becoming an increasingly common feature of urban life. Lighting has an important role to play in defining the character of streets, spaces, and buildings. Many buildings in the City have been celebrated through floodlighting to great effect for a number of years, providing interest and vitality to the night time scene and contributing to an enhanced City image. Whilst promoting high quality architectural illumination of buildings and structures, the Council also has a duty to ensure that the electrical equipment used is as unobtrusive as possible and does not detract from the day-time appearance of buildings, particularly where they are listed or are located in a conservation area.
Sports clubs use lighting to extend the usage of their facilities into the evening. Car parks in supermarkets and communal premises are lit by overhead lighting columns as an aid to night-time security and car showroom forecourts are illuminated to allow out-of-hours browsing. With this trend, however, comes the increasing potential for light spillage on to adjoining property and an adverse affect on the amenity of neighbours.
This policy deals with all proposals for the architectural illumination of buildings and for the erection of free-standing lighting columns. See policy RES 2: Residential Site Layouts for street lighting and policy RES 20: Modern Fittings to Buildings for the erection of security lights mounted on residential or commercial property.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANNING PERMISSION
The attachment of lighting fittings and associated equipment which, may materially affect the external appearance of a building or structure, may also require planning permission or listed building consent. Advice on whether an application is required should be sought from the Planning Authority.
It should be noted that where architectural lighting is part of a larger building or refurbishment project it is usual practice for it to be included in the formal application so that it can be assessed in the context of other works.
POLICY
1. Lighting Columns
Planning permission will only be granted for the erection of lighting columns providing there will be no adverse affect on neighbouring properties because of spillage of light. Proposals are also unlikely to be acceptable if they are judged to cause distraction to road users because of dazzle or glare, or are located on the public footpath.
2. Architectural Lighting
To ensure high quality illumination of buildings and structures, all lighting proposals require written approval and should meet the following criteria:
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Fittings, control gear and cables should be concealed from view as much as possible, be visually related to architectural features of the building such as the bases of pilasters, or be located on ledges. Projection from the face of the building should be kept to a minimum;
All visible fittings should be as small as is practical, be of a neat, regular shape and may be required to be painted in an agreed colour to reduce their visual impact;
The light source should be carefully chosen to enhance the appearance of the building. On most buildings, particularly where listed or located in conservation areas, it will be most appropriate to use a single light source to complement and enhance the colour of the stonework, with the possibility of a different light source or selective use of colour to highlight architectural features. On modern buildings there are fewer constraints and the use of colour, fibre optics and neon may be appropriate. In some instances the lighting scheme may incorporate, or itself constitute, public art;
The lighting design should ensure that there is no light spillage or glare which would cause a hazard to road traffic or a nuisance to neighbours;
Resistance to vandalism in terms of design, location of fittings, and any protective measures must be fully considered and be compatible with good aesthetics;
The design of the lighting scheme should take account of maintenance requirements in terms of access to fittings; and
Lighting designers are encouraged to discuss their preliminary design proposals with the Planning Authority and should be aware that a site demonstration may be required before approval is given. ‘Architectural Lighting Guidelines’, giving a fuller explanation of the above criteria, are available from Development and Regeneration Services.
3. Light Pollution
Conditions will always be attached to planning permissions to limit light spillage and to ensure that there will be no adverse affect on adjoining properties.