RTPI Introductory Guide to Planning & Environmental Protection

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1 RESOURCES & PROCESSES

Light Pollution
2 DEFINITION

"Skyglow which has tainted the night sky over Britain since the 1950's, mostly as a result of poorly aimed
streetlights and floodlights emitting light above the horizontal into the sky, but nowadays increasingly because
of vastly over-powered, poorly mounted household security lights."
[British Astronomical Association]

3 EXPLANATION

A satellite image of the UK at midnight clearly demonstrates that light escapes from every urban area, and is
visible from a substantial distance from the planet. Many people regard this as a form of pollution.
It is argued that this is not only a question of astronomy: overlighting consumes unnecessary energy; may
affect human health; and may cause disruption to animal and plant life.

4 COMMENTARY

Appropriate street lighting is essential to community safety. Street lighting is also a substantial consumer of
energy. However, much public (as well as private) lighting is misdirected or excessive. The Campaign for Dark
Skies (Preventing Light Pollution: The Four Point Plan)argues that:
• Wherever possible lights should be installed in full cut-off or ultra low-profile housings to prevent the
emission of light above the horizontal.
• Although astronomers prefer the light emitted by low pressure sodium lamps (as this can be filtered out),
high pressure sodium lamps are acceptable provided there is negligible spill above the horizontal.
• 'Overlighting' must be avoided. Using only the correct amount of light for the task in hand, according to
accepted standards, will reduce the amount of reflected light contributing to sky glow.
• Unnecessary night-time lighting, particularly decorative floodlighting, merchandising and advertising lighting
and sports floodlighting, should be switched off at 11pm or midnight to reduce the total sky glow in the
early morning, pre-dawn hours.

5 RELEVANCE TO PLANNING
Development Plans can include light pollution or light trespass clauses. Local Plans with recognised policies
include: Swale Borough, East Hampshire District, Malvern Hills, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough, Epsom & Ewell.
Light pollution can be a material consideration, and a justification for refusal or enforcement. In several places
(eg Northampton, Worthing and Skegness), councils have ordered sky-beam advertisements on night-clubs and
similar establishments to be switched off on environmental and traffic safety grounds. A refusal of permission
for a night-club advertisement in Guildford, comprising light beams that would have been visible from 20 miles,
was endorsed on appeal. However, in all such cases, it is the lighting equipment not the light itself which is
subject to planning controls. Small security lights which do not significantly alter a building’s external
appearance are outside the scope of planning controls.
6 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT

Although the issue is acknowledged by Government there is currently no legislation on this matter. Lighting is
not included in the list of pollutants under the Control of Pollution Act, and the courts have ruled that light itself
does not amount to ‘development’ for planning purposes. Therefore controls can be imposed only where an LPA
has a planning application to consider.

7 FURTHER INFORMATION & LINKS

Countryside Commission/DEFRA, Lighting in the Countryside - Towards Good Practice, 1997
Dept. of Transport, Road Lighting and the Environment.
Institution of Lighting Engineers, Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Light Pollution,1997 and Urban Lighting Guide: A Guide to
Good Urban Lighting. (n/d)
British Astronomical Association's Campaign for Dark Skies, Incorporating Lighting Clauses in Your Local Plan; Preventing
Light Pollution: The Four Point Plan [leaflets]
P Jukes, "Light Pollution & the Law" in Journal of Planning Law (Jan 1998)
R Mizon, Light Pollution: Responses and Remedies, Springer, 2001
International Dark-Sky Association
National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection
Council for the Protection of Rural England
NSCA Leaflet on light pollution
Environment Agency briefing note
INDEX INTRODUCTION FEEDBACK
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