Developers in the City of London will be required to submit a detailed strategy for how their buildings are lit, under plans to cut light pollution and save energy.
The City of London Corporation is consulting on a draft Lighting Supplementary Planning Document, which will lay down requirements for future planning applications in the Square Mile and provide guidance on lighting existing buildings.
The City Corporation will also encourage businesses and building owners to sign up to a new voluntary Considerate Lighting Charter, to show their commitment to improving lighting in the City.
The proposals are aimed at reducing the impact of artificial light on residents and helping the City Corporation reach its target of achieving carbon net zero for the Square Mile as a whole by 2040.
City of London Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee Chairman Shravan Joshi 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 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.
Owners of new developments would be required to consider lighting levels and to turn off or dim their lights earlier if their building is in a sensitive area such as a residential or special heritage area.
The consultation runs until Friday, 17 February 2023 at 5pm and can be completed at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lightingconsultation
