The Square Mile concentrates some of the most complex rights of light territory in the country, with the tall building cluster around Bishopsgate, Leadenhall, and Fenchurch Street rising alongside historic commercial buildings, City churches, and Barbican residential. Almost all existing buildings carry windows that have received natural light for far longer than the 20-year easement threshold under the Prescription Act 1832, which means new commercial towers, mid-rise redevelopment, and conversion projects all routinely raise high-value rights of light questions. City of London Corporation planning consent does not address that legal position.
We act on City of London schemes from the London head office, with reach across the wider central London area, supported by colleagues in Essex and Hampshire. CHP is RICS regulated and has been advising on rights of light since 2004. The London team handles this work with specialist focus, and where the work overlaps with the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 we run party wall services from the same point of contact.
The right time to instruct on a City of London scheme is as early as possible, before drawings go in for planning consent. Commercial tower projects in the Square Mile typically involve substantial neighbouring rights of light exposure, and quantifying it at the design stage when massing and footprint are still negotiable can save very significant settlement figures later. The free initial assessment identifies which neighbouring windows could be affected and which carry the 20-year easement, with a full rights of light analysis following where the appraisal flags risk.
Where modelling shows likely infringement, the cutback analysis tests design variations including reduced height, set-back upper floors, and adjusted fenestration until the scheme works for both the planning case and the rights of light position. The Equivalent First Zone and the 50/50 rule are applied to quantify any loss. Our rights of light assessments overview sets out the broader method, with each scope tailored to the specific City of London project.
Adjoining owners in the City of London have several options when a nearby tall building or significant scheme threatens the light through their windows. We assess the impact of the proposed scheme on the affected rooms, advise on the strength of the legal position under the acquired easement, and set out the available remedies including negotiation, formal objection to the City of London Corporation, and ultimately court action where matters cannot be resolved between the parties.
Light Obstruction Notices can also be used to protect future development potential of the adjoining owner's own property. Given the scale of City of London schemes, settlement figures can be substantial, making early engagement worthwhile. A short free initial assessment is the quickest way to know where you stand.
