Daylight and Sunlight Assessments in Waverley

Waverley doesn't have the high-density urban form of many London boroughs, but daylight and sunlight are still important planning considerations across the borough. The area's character is incredibly varied, from the historic streets and conservation areas of Godalming, Farnham and Haslemere, to established suburban neighbourhoods in Cranleigh and Milford, rural villages such as Chiddingfold, Bramley and Elstead, and modern residential developments delivered over recent years. Wherever you're building, if your proposal could reduce the amount of daylight or sunlight reaching a neighbouring property or garden, Waverley Borough Council will expect those impacts to be properly assessed.

At Sunlight Assessments, we prepare BRE-compliant daylight and sunlight assessments for planning applications throughout Waverley, producing reports that are tailored to the council's adopted planning policies rather than relying on a generic template.

When do you need a daylight and sunlight assessment in Waverley?

A formal daylight and sunlight assessment isn't required for every planning application, but it is commonly requested, or advisable to have prepared, for developments such as:

• Extensions to properties in the historic centres of Godalming, Farnham and Haslemere, where neighbouring buildings are often closer together and overlooking or loss of light can become an issue.
• Infill development or the subdivision of large residential plots, particularly where a new dwelling is proposed alongside existing homes.
• Residential developments on allocated housing sites or windfall sites where new buildings are positioned close to neighbouring properties.
• Apartment schemes or higher-density developments within the borough's larger settlements.
• Loft conversions, two-storey extensions and rear additions that project towards neighbouring habitable room windows.
• Developments affecting neighbouring gardens, particularly where outdoor amenity space forms an important part of residential enjoyment.
• Any application where Waverley Borough Council identifies daylight and sunlight as a material planning consideration.

If you're unsure whether your proposal requires a daylight and sunlight assessment, get in touch. We'll provide honest advice with no obligation.

How Waverley's planning policy applies

Planning applications in Waverley are primarily determined against the Waverley Borough Local Plan Part 1: Strategic Policies and Sites (2018) together with the Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies (2023). These documents contain the borough's adopted planning policies and place considerable emphasis on achieving high-quality design while protecting the amenities enjoyed by neighbouring residents.

Development proposals are expected to demonstrate that they do not result in unacceptable impacts on surrounding occupiers, including through the loss of daylight, sunlight, outlook or overbearing effects. Residential amenity forms an important part of the council's assessment, particularly within established residential areas and conservation areas where the existing character is sensitive to change.

For many proposals, Waverley Borough Council also refers applicants to its adopted Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs), including design guidance that promotes well-designed development respecting neighbouring properties and the local character of the area.

For technical assessment, Waverley follows the nationally recognised guidance contained within BRE BR 209 – Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight (2022 edition). This document provides the accepted methodology for assessing the impact of development using measurable criteria including Vertical Sky Component (VSC), No Sky Line (NSL) and Annual Probable Sunlight Hours (APSH).

You can view Waverley's planning policies and guidance here:

• Waverley Borough Council planning policy
• Waverley Local Plan

How the assessment works

We use the methodology set out in BRE BR 209 to assess the impact of proposed development on daylight and sunlight. The key tests we carry out include:

Vertical Sky Component (VSC): This measures the amount of sky visible from the centre of a window. BRE guidance recommends that a VSC of 27% or more is generally considered adequate. Where a development results in a VSC that is less than 0.8 times its former value, the reduction may be noticeable to occupants.

No-Sky Line (NSL): This assesses the distribution of daylight within a room by plotting the line beyond which no sky is visible. Where the area of a room that can receive direct skylight is reduced by more than 20%, occupants are likely to notice a deterioration in the quality of daylight.

Annual Probable Sunlight Hours (APSH): This test is used to assess access to sunlight for windows that face within 90° of due south. It considers both the winter and annual totals to determine whether sunlight losses are likely to be material.

Where appropriate, we also carry out sun-on-ground studies to assess the impact on garden or amenity spaces.

What our Waverley daylight and sunlight reports include

Our reports are designed to satisfy both planning officers and planning consultants and typically include:

• A description of the proposed development and its surrounding context.
• Identification of neighbouring windows and amenity spaces that could be affected.
• Vertical Sky Component (VSC) calculations.
• No Sky Line (NSL) assessments where appropriate.
• Annual Probable Sunlight Hours (APSH) calculations for relevant windows.
• Sun-on-ground analysis for gardens and external amenity spaces where required.
• A comparison against the BRE BR 209 guidance.
• A clear planning judgement explaining whether the development is likely to be considered acceptable.
• Practical recommendations for amendments where small design changes could improve compliance.

Every report is prepared by experienced consultants familiar with the planning issues commonly encountered across Waverley.

Get in touch

If you're planning a development in Waverley and would like to know whether a daylight and sunlight assessment is required, we'd be happy to help.

We offer a free initial consultation and can deliver a completed BRE-compliant report within 5 working days once we've received the necessary drawings and project information.