The City of London Corporation is consulting on a draft lighting supplementary planning document, which will see developers in the City required to submit a detailed strategy about how their buildings are lit.
The draft document has been brought forward by the corporation to cut light pollution and save energy in the City and in addition to providing guidance on lighting existing buildings it will also set out requirements for future planning applications.
In addition, the corporation is encouraging businesses and building owners to sign up to a new voluntary Considerate Lighting Charter, to show their commitment to improving lighting in the City.
Shravan Joshi, City of London Corporation planning and transportation committee chairman, said: “The City is a unique place in which 24/7 business districts and busy transport hubs rub up against historic buildings and residential neighbourhoods.
“The strategy laid out in this document is aimed at ensuring an intelligent, sensitive approach to lighting which ensures the City is safe and accessible, while protecting its historic character and the amenity of our residents.
“We would really welcome the views of people who live, work in or visit the City, which will help us to shape how we enshrine responsible lighting in planning process and to meet our ambitious climate targets.”
The draft lighting supplementary planning document proposes allocating new developments into ‘brightness zones’, with curfew times during which all external lighting other than that required for safety or crime prevention reasons should be switched off or dimmed.
The consultation runs until 5pm on Friday 17 February 2023.
