Let there be light! Ensure green spaces have six hours of daylight

During the pandemic, daylight and outdoor space became more important than ever as Londoners spent more time indoors. Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain's release of a hormone called serotonin, the key hormone that stabilises our mood.

The London Assembly has today called 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.

Sian Berry AM, who proposed the motion said:

“I am pleased the Assembly joined me today to agree on the importance to Londoners of daylight to healthy homes, and to thriving natural green spaces. These are vital for children to enjoy and to support their physical and mental health. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, we should be using planning rules to expand these benefits, not putting a stopwatch on them.

“The proposed changes to sunlight guidance will harm Londoners and our environment and I hope that the Mayor will listen to the Assembly on this. Nobody in London should have to live or play in permanent gloom.”

Neil Garratt AM, who seconded the motion said:

"The Mayor's proposed guidance on the minimum sunlight level for outdoor spaces risks shrouding people's homes in darkness. By setting such a low minimum level, he's effectively removing the protection which ensures new buildings don't overshadow London's green spaces.

"Sunlight is so important for people's mental and physical wellbeing. That's why there must be adequate protections in the London Plan to ensure we're building homes that people are proud to live in with thriving green spaces. I hope the Mayor reviews his proposed guidance to ensure London's green spaces receive at least six hours of daylight."

The full text of the motion is:

“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.”