DFL were recently brought in to support an Airfield redevelopment project.

This reorganisation of the Airfield aimed to modernise the complex by updating aircraft hangars, parking, modular tenant buildings, and more. Enhancements extended to roof-mounted solar panels, electric aircraft charging stations, and a refurbished control tower and café.

The vast construction work was scheduled into a phased approach to minimise disruption and ensure the Airfield could stay open the entire time. This meant that DFL needed to create a lighting scheme that would inhibit light pollution during construction work.

Crucially, the site also included ecologically sensitive areas, particularly bat maternity roosts in the southern zone. Hence, a Lighting Impact Assessment was requested to ensure minimal disruption.

1. Why is it important to control lighting during the construction phase of a building? Answer: Construction lighting that is used overnight, is for safety and security. It can contribute significantly to light pollution if poorly managed. Unshielded or overly bright lights can disturb nearby residents, affect wildlife, and waste energy. Managing it early sets the tone for sustainable site practices.

2. What strategies can construction managers use to minimise light pollution on-site? Answer: Construction managers can use temporary lighting that is shielded and directed downward, install motion sensors or timers to limit usage, and select lower-intensity lights with warm colour temperatures. Positioning lights carefully to avoid spill into nearby areas is also crucial.

3. What is light pollution and why is it a problem? Answer: Light pollution is the excessive or misdirected artificial light produced by human activity. It disrupts ecosystems, obscures the night sky, wastes energy, and negatively affects human health by interfering with circadian rhythms and sleep patterns.

4. What can individuals do to help mitigate light pollution at home? Answer: Individuals can turn off unnecessary outdoor lights, use motion-activated lighting, install downward-facing fixtures, and choose warm-coloured bulbs. Supporting local and global initiatives like International Dark-Sky Association programs also helps raise awareness and promote better lighting practices.

🛠️ DFL’s Tailored Solution DFL’s Lighting Assessment considered national and local policies while detailing why lighting was necessary and how it could be installed with minimal impact. Key highlights included:

• Use of high-quality luminaires directing light downward. • Installation of lighting with peak beam angles below 70°. • Lights focused to avoid glare, light trespass, and spill. • Sensitive design near ecological hotspots, especially the bat roosts.

🌙 Construction Phase Considerations During construction, activities would mainly occur in daylight, minimising the need for artificial lighting. When used, construction lights were: • Low-level and task-specific. • Handheld or head-torched when possible. • Equipped with PIR and photosensors to activate only when necessary.

DFL’s involvement in the Airfield redevelopment showcases how smart lighting strategies can support both infrastructure development and environmental stewardship. Through targeted lighting, optical control, and attention to detail, DFL helped create a safer, more sustainable airfield, from the construction phase, right through to the final build. We now have our fingers crossed that Planning is granted and this amazing rebuild can go ahead, enhancing the current structure and creating jobs for the local area.