Lighting for biodiversity specification
Light pollution from artificial lighting impacts wildlife, particularly those species which have evolved to be most active during the darkest hours. Impacts from light pollution can include alterations in feeding, nesting and roosting behaviours of various species, which can negatively impact the species as a whole. Light pollution can also fragment habitats which nocturnal species are dependent on for survival.
The amount of artificial lighting included within your development should be restricted as much as possible to reduce the impacts to wildlife. Installations of external lighting may not always be necessary, but when they are, alternatives could be considered. For example, infrared cameras can be used in place of traditional external lighting where security is a consideration.
In cases where external lighting is required, the Local Planning Authority may request that a lighting strategy is secured to reduce the impacts to wildlife.
- Each light must be no more than 2.5m above ground level and positioned below the eaves
- Lighting should be mounted horizontally with no output above 90 degrees
- A maximum of one light per external doorway/entrance/exit
- Lights can be positioned on the underside of porches or canopies but only when associated with an external doorway/entrance/exit
- Lighting should not be allowed to illuminate trees, hedgerows, other sensitive ecological features
- Lighting should not be placed near or allowed to illuminate sensitive features such as bat boxes or bird nesting features
Lighting must generally:
- Be fixed downlights which cannot be tilted, with a 0 degree tilt angle
- Direct light produced by the lighting unit to the floor, with a 0% upward light ratio. Some lights can emit light upwards or sideways
- Be fitted with a low wattage LED bulb (5W) with a warm white colour temperature (not exceeding 2700K)
- Not include Ultraviolet (UV) elements. Metal halide, compact fluorescent sources should not be used
- Feature peak wavelengths higher than 550nm
- Not be of bollard or low-level downward-directional lighting types
- All lighting should be controlled by PIR motion sensors, set to a short timer (maximum 1 minute). Separate sensors may need to be fitted to units which do not have an in-built motion sensor.
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