The hospice is not only located within a Special Area of Conservation, but it also sits inside one of the Cotswolds Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). This dual designation brought added pressure: any lighting design had to protect the sensitive bat habitats, maintain the tranquillity of the landscape, and still meet the operational needs of the facility.

Special Areas of Conservation are legally protected sites designated under the European Union’s Habitats Directive. They are chosen for their importance in conserving habitats and species that are rare, vulnerable, or threatened across Europe. In this case, protecting the bat population was critical, as any light spill or inappropriate illumination could significantly disrupt their lifecycle.

Alongside ecological restrictions, the lighting scheme needed to gain planning approval from the local authority and satisfy concerns from residents, who were already apprehensive about any increase in lighting due to previous issues with glare and excessive light spill from older fittings.

The first step was to remove the existing six-metre floodlights, which had high tilt angles and produced uncontrolled lighting, contributing to light pollution and disturbing both the environment and nearby households. After thorough consultation with ecologists, we specified DW Windsor Kirium Pro Mini luminaires mounted on four-metre columns.

We worked closely with the manufacturer to develop bespoke luminaire shields that would drastically reduce light spill and glare. To further support biodiversity, especially the local bat population, we used DW Windsor Pharola DS bollards with downward-facing light for amenity areas and pedestrian routes.

The lighting temperature was also carefully selected. We used a warm 3000K colour temperature, in line with best practices from the Institution of Lighting Professionals’ ‘Bats and Artificial Lighting in the UK’ guidance. Furthermore, the lux levels (brightness) were deliberately set lower than the typical requirements for car park lighting, based on site-specific safety assessments and ecological feedback.

This sensitive approach ensured minimal disruption to wildlife while still providing the functionality the hospice required.

The final lighting design achieved 0% upward light, a major success that contributed to the site receiving the prestigious ‘Good Lighting Award’ from the Commission for Dark Skies. Most importantly, despite earlier concerns, local residents praised the outcome—proving that thoughtful lighting can enhance both usability and community relations.

From nine years of discussions to nearly three years of planning and three intensive months of development, the Dorothy House Hospice project was a labour of love for our team, our partners at DW Windsor, and contractors MJ Church. Working within a Special Area of Conservation demanded patience, precision, and passion—and the results speak for themselves.

We’re proud to have delivered a scheme that showcases what’s possible when design, compliance, and conservation work together.

And we’d do it all again in a heartbeat!