Protect sunlight for green spaces and dwellings

Siân Berry AM moved, and Neil Garratt AM seconded the following altered motion:

“This Assembly recognises that sunlight and daylight are vital for people’s physical and mental health, as well as for quality of life and the beauty of our city. However we are concerned that within the draft supplementary planning guidance for the London Plan – Good Quality Homes for All Londoners; Section C5.3 Daylight, Sunlight and Overshadowing – are policies that, if adopted, will lead to very low standards of sunlight and daylight.

The guidance proposes as acceptable a minimum of two hours daylight for just 50 per cent of any outdoor space at the equinoxes. Applied to green spaces, this could result in them being overshadowed or in darkness for 22 hours a day in the spring and autumn, and in perpetual shadow in the depths of winter. This lack of sunlight will kill our green spaces, destroying habitats and ecosystems along with the wildlife and insects that rely on them.

Equally concerning is the proposed guidance on indoor lighting that would allow a new building to reduce the daylight in neighbouring buildings to less than half the existing Building Research Establishment (BRE) standard. If approved, this could put homes into permanent gloom with the result they would need to have artificial lights on much of the time, including in the height of summer.

Lack of sunlight has negative knock-on effects for Londoners who need natural light for activities, such as children’s play, and to support their physical and mental health. We should be planning to expand these activities and benefits, not putting a stopwatch on them.

The Assembly calls on the Mayor to amend his London Plan draft supplementary guidance to include a requirement that London’s green spaces receive six hours of daylight on the two equinoxes each year and to retain the BRE guidance on daylight levels (Vertical Sky Component) at 27 per cent.”

Following debate and upon being put to a vote, the altered motion was agreed (12 votes in favour and 0 votes against).