INTRODUCTION

Most people value sunlight (ie light coming directly from the sun) in buildings and outdoors. The sun makes rooms seem bright and cheerful, and is seen as having a therapeutic effect. Increasingly, the sun is also being used as a source of solar energy.

Site layout is the most important factor affecting the duration of sunlight reaching buildings and open spaces. BRE Report BR 209, Site layout planning for daylight and sunlight: a guide to good practice, deals with this issue. It has recently been completely revised to include additional guidance on dense urban environments and issues such as the effects of trees and balconies, and to tie in with other documents including the British Standard Code of Practice for Daylighting[3], which has also recently been revised.

This Information Paper summarises some of the guidance on sunlight and solar radiation. The guidelines may be used for dwellings and any non-domestic buildings where sunlight is required. The guidance outlined here is not mandatory, and may be varied according to the needs of the development and its context. The requirement for sunlight depends especially on the types of use of interior and exterior spaces.