Maldon District Council reviews a planning caseload that runs from historic town centre infill in Maldon itself through to residential and small commercial development across Heybridge, Burnham-on-Crouch, and the surrounding estuary villages. Daylight and sunlight assessments come up regularly on schemes that materially affect neighbouring habitable rooms or amenity space, and conservation context shapes much of the design conversation on the older streets and estuary frontage plots.
Our Essex team prepares these reports under RICS regulation from our Wickford office, with BRE 209 (2022) as the working reference. Site attendance across the Maldon district runs faster than for London-led practices, and the broader practice has been delivering daylight and sunlight reports across the East of England since 2004. Where works cross a shared boundary, party wall services sit alongside the daylight piece.
Using the knowledge we have gained throughout our involvement in projects of differing size and complexities, we are able to apply the criteria within the BRE guidelines and produce comprehensive reports to accompany a planning application.
When assessing daylight and sunlight, we work with a professional team to try and achieve the best outcome for a site, whilst respecting the neighbouring properties’ access to daylight and sunlight. We will also provide advice on how the design of potential residential accommodation can ensure access to good levels of daylight and sunlight.
The work covers the proposed scheme drawings, an initial site appraisal, and a 3D model of the development and the affected neighbouring properties. The BRE 209 analysis then runs Vertical Sky Component for daylight to windows and Annual Probable Sunlight Hours for sunlight to habitable rooms with relevant orientation, with No Sky Line brought in where room geometry materially matters.
Overshadowing analysis on amenity space tests the 21 March sun position. Sunpath studies cover seasonal access where these add useful evidence, particularly on estuary-facing plots where orientation drives a lot of the result. Trees within the impact zone are factored in, with retention or removal flagged where it changes the outcome of the assessment.
A typical turnaround is 2 to 3 weeks from instruction. Calls come through to a qualified surveyor rather than a call centre, and a free initial assessment confirms scope before any fee is committed. This is a bespoke surveying service shaped to each scheme.
I have worked with CHP for a number of years, obtaining advice from them with regard to daylight and sunlight. They provide exactly what our clients require and work closely with us to resolve any issues, should they arise.
- Andrew Ryley , DLBP
Falling short of BRE 209 reference values does not block consent on its own. The figures are guidance and need to be read against context. Maldon District Council will look at existing density, the orientation of neighbouring properties, and whether the design has done what it reasonably can to protect light access, particularly on conservation-area sites where existing form is tight and small changes in massing can shift the result.
A well-argued report sets out the shortfall, explains the cause, and shows the design steps taken to mitigate it. Reports are turned around in 2 to 3 weeks. Where the scheme involves building over an existing property, airspace development advice sits alongside the daylight piece. The free initial assessment is the way in for borderline cases.
Get in touch.
Head Office
2-6 Boundary Row
London, SE1 8HP
Essex Office
2-6 Boundary Row
London, SE1 8HP
020 3714 4090
Get in touch.
Head Office
2-6 Boundary Row
London, SE1 8HP
Essex Office
2nd Floor, 10 High Street
Wickford, Essex
SS12 9AZ
020 3714 4090
enquiries@chpsurveyors.com
