Well, here’s the tricky part:
-The site was close to a Special Area of Consideration
Cox’s Quarry is situated near a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which required additional precautions in the lighting plan, especially for access road lighting. SACs are protected under strict regulations due to their high ecological or cultural value. Lighting installations near these areas must prevent any potential interference with the natural landscape or species within the SAC. We needed to ensure that light spill did not reach the SAC boundary, which could disturb nocturnal species or degrade the visual quality of the area. This added another layer of complexity, as any adjustments to meet SAC standards also had to stay within local council regulations, aligning both environmental protection and development needs.
-Also near a Site of Special Scientific Interest
In addition to being near a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), the Cox’s Quarry development site was also close to a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). SSSIs are protected areas in the UK that hold particular scientific value due to their unique flora, fauna, geological, or physiological features. This proximity required an especially careful approach to lighting, including access road lighting, because any light spill could impact the area’s delicate balance and biodiversity. The lighting team needed to account for how both direct and indirect light sources might affect the SSSI.
-There was a significant population of Lesser Horseshoe Bats nearby
The development site at Cox’s Quarry is located near a habitat for Lesser Horseshoe Bats, a species that is particularly sensitive to artificial light. These bats are protected under both UK and EU wildlife legislation because of their vulnerability and declining population. Artificial light can disrupt their natural behaviours, including foraging and navigating, as well as negatively affect their roosting patterns. Bats, especially the Lesser Horseshoe species, are known to avoid brightly lit areas, so even minor light spill from access road lighting beyond certain limits could reduce their habitat range and impact their population health. To address this, the lighting plan had to minimise any risk of light pollution reaching the areas these bats frequent.
-There was a strict 0.5 lux line position due to the ecology
One of the most challenging aspects of the project was adhering to a strict 0.5 lux line boundary. This line represented the maximum light intensity allowed beyond certain perimeters to protect local wildlife and ecosystems. Exceeding 0.5 lux could disrupt nocturnal animals and sensitive plants, particularly in areas close to their natural habitats. This constraint required precision modelling to ensure that light from both fixtures and windows, including the access road lighting, would not exceed this limit. The lux boundary effectively created a “light buffer” zone, which required consistent monitoring and adjustment during the modelling phase to avoid ecological disruption.
-We needed to include external lighting but also the light coming from the windows in each building.
For a development like Cox’s Quarry, it wasn't enough to consider just the external lighting typically required for car parking and access road lighting. The lighting plan had to account for both the external lighting fixtures and the light spilling from windows in each of the new dwellings. Each building’s windows had the potential to contribute to overall light levels in the surrounding area. This meant we needed a delicate balance—ensuring the site was well-lit for safety and functionality, while keeping light spill and glare to a minimum, especially in ecologically sensitive zones.
-Each building had a different layout
The six new dwellings had unique floor plans, which presented a significant challenge in terms of lighting design, particularly for access road lighting. Each layout meant that windows, entryways, and the building footprint interacted differently with the surrounding environment. Tailoring the lighting for each structure required a custom approach to fit each specific layout while maintaining uniformity in light distribution across the development. The variations also meant that every building had different window placements and orientations, all of which affected the extent and direction of light spill, making it crucial to model each dwelling separately to predict and control potential light intrusion into sensitive areas.
-The buildings weren’t all being built at the same angle
Not all the buildings were constructed facing the same direction or at the same angle, which added to the complexity of managing light spill, particularly along access road lighting. Different angles altered how light interacted with each structure and the surrounding space, influencing not only how far the light would reach but also the intensity and concentration of light in particular areas. Angled buildings cast shadows differently and could potentially redirect light onto unintended areas, such as ecologically sensitive zones or neighbouring properties. We needed a tailored approach for each structure to ensure compliance with the lighting plan, considering the directionality of light in relation to each building's orientation.
