This stylish property features the perfect pairing of modern architecture with the existing house. The lighting design scheme enhances the period features of the house with the addition of sleek decorative lighting in modern extension.

Located within an inhabited semi-rural E3 environmental zone, this was treated as a relatively dark sky area of Buckinghamshire. A multi-apartment refurbish development, with designed landscaped gardens and car parking.

We were brought on board by developer Mackenzie Homes to work with architects OSP Architects, who also acted as planning consultants, to survey the existing site and plan a new exterior lighting scheme. Ecologist Betts Ecology, had reported that bats could commute between a network of tree lined boundaries. The planned lighting must not disturb the wildlife and biodiversity, which was required to help gain planning permission.

We provided the client with a full lighting strategy that would be sensitive to the surrounding wildlife and migratory bats. This included an Isolux contour map showing light spillage down to 1LUX, a schedule of lighting equipment, and lighting control guidance.

The new scheme would provide a safe, welcoming environment for the premises – this satisfied the condition for lighting for biodiversity within the original planning consent.

This residential development is set within a relatively dark zone, and has existing external lighting – but more was required as the development expanded to enhance the security of the area. Bird and bat boxes are located nearby, and careful consideration was needed about the methods and equipment used to avoid unnecessary light pollution and to be sensitive to the needs of the local wildlife and environment.

At SKR, we created new lighting design proposals and calculations to limit impact of light pollution from artificial light, with any light spillage kept to 1lux both vertically and horizontally. We worked in partnership with the client, and with ecologist consultant Graeme Smart of GSL Ecology, to realise a simple, practical lighting scheme that gives enough task illumination, security illumination and guidance illumination for the owners, without disrupting the surrounding environments and biodiversity.

With these measures in place, the planning application was approved by the local authority.

This 12 house development is located within a rural and very quiet E1/E2 environmental zone. This was treated as an effective dark sky area of the Surrey countryside. This former chicken farm site is surrounded by a protected ancient woodland with a roosting bat population, therefore any scheme needed to be fully lighting compliant before being able to discharge the planning condition.

SKR were brought into the project by Ecology Consultants and bat report experts Ecology-by-Design to work with the client, developer and planning consultant to create a sensitive lighting scheme to limit the impact of light pollution from artificial light on nature conservation to satisfy the planning conditions.

SKR carried out a detailed day and night lighting survey of the existing site, which included analysis of the existing agricultural buildings and current lighting, measuring light levels, light spill and all current light pollution on the site and taking note of problematic light pollution from some neighbouring properties for the record.

We provided the client with a full lighting strategy that would be sensitive to the surrounding wildlife and roosting bats, that included an Isolux contour map showing light spillage down to 1LUX, a schedule of lighting equipment and lighting control guidance. This covered all the house plots, garages, gardens, pathways, and parking.

The new scheme would provide a safe, welcoming feeling for the future new residents, while still being a safe dark zone for bats, all other wildlife and enhance the biodiversity.

This was the testimonial from our client David Jacobs, Director at St John Homes (Thames Valley) Ltd

“We were introduced to Neil Skinner at SKR Lighting Design through recommendation. The Local Planning Authority requested an external lighting survey to assess the impacts of our residential development proposal on a former chicken farm site in a sensitive landscape and ecological setting (inclusive of ancient woodland on part of the site boundaries). Neil undertook a thorough review of the site measuring the current external lighting impacts and designed a sensitive external lighting scheme in conjunction with our appointed ecologists Ecology by Design for our proposed scheme. The follow up report resulted in the LPA being satisfied with the proposals and the external lighting scheme.

Neil was a pleasure to work with and successfully addressed the issues raised in a prompt and thorough manner. I would highly recommend SKR for this skillset which we are now seeing as a more common requirement on our future projects.”

Victorian Terrace with new extension, pavilion building and landscaped garden. Lighting throughout including advanced lighting control system.

Located within a suburban area of the town of Liversedge, this project was within a E3 Environmental Zone, of medium district brightness. This two-dwelling development required a lighting design strategy before occupation. The site was previously residential, with two dwellings, prior to client demolition.

We were brought on board by the developer, to work alongside ecologist VW Verity Webster, to survey the existing site and plan an exterior lighting strategy. The existing site had a small bungalow with a mixture of old and non-compliant floodlighting which was to be removed to make the site better.

Bat and bird boxes were to be installed on the exterior facades of the new buildings, from which lighting restrictions were in place so not to disturb the nocturnal wildlife.

We provided the client with a full lighting strategy that would be sensitive to the surrounding wildlife, whilst providing safe and functional illumination for the residents and visitors of the new dwellings. This included an Isolux contour map showing light spillage down to 1LUX, a schedule of lighting equipment, and control guidance.

The new scheme would provide a safe, welcoming environment for the premises – this satisfied the condition for lighting for biodiversity within the original planning consent.