Client: Sunrise Senior Living - Southampton

Our client was looking to expand its sheltered housing schemes across the UK, including a site in Southampton.

Our brief was to report whether under the existing plans, the redevelopment of the site would materially affect the daylight and sunlight amenity of the surrounding buildings. The plans were to be submitted as part of the planning application for the site. If the sunlight/daylight issues were not properly addressed, further delays and additional expenditure would have been accrued by the client.

We investigated Southampton City Council’s specific daylight and sunlight policies.

We analysed the plans, viewed the site and the five neighbouring properties, and assessed them against the BRE’s authorative Guidance.

We concluded that two of the neighbouring properties failed the daylight test and would be adversely affected by the new development – further modelling, testing and reporting is being undertaken to achieve a successful planning permission.

At this stage, we have not been asked to advice on other relevant Neighbourly Matters.

“Neighbourly matters” is a collective term which covers a number of specialist building consultancy skills that we undertake including:

· access agreement
· access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992
· boundary disputes
· construction noise and pollution
· daylight and sunlight
· expert witness
· Party Wall Etc Act 1996
· rights to light
· rights of way and escape
· schedule of condition