Daylight and Sunlight Assessment Manchester

Anstey Horne is a leading provider of Daylight and Sunlight Assessments in Manchester, offering expert advice to developers, planners, architects, and consultants across Greater Manchester and the North West.

Our reports help secure planning permission, mitigate risk, and demonstrate compliance with national and local guidelines.

What Is a Daylight and Sunlight Assessment?

A Daylight and Sunlight Assessment examines the impact of a new development on the natural light levels of both existing and proposed buildings. These assessments form a critical part of the planning process in Manchester, especially in high-density and mixed-use areas.

Using precise calculations and 3D modelling, we assess how a scheme will affect access to daylight, sunlight, and overshadowing in accordance with industry standards.

Why Are Daylight and Sunlight Assessments Crucial in Manchester?

Manchester's urban fabric includes dense city-centre plots, sensitive conservation areas, and rapidly growing regeneration zones. These conditions make it essential to carefully evaluate and protect daylight and sunlight access for both new and existing occupiers.

A well-prepared Daylight and Sunlight Assessment Manchester can:

Demonstrate adherence to BRE Guidelines (BR209, 2022)
Support planning applications with credible technical evidence
Address concerns raised by Manchester City Council and local consultees
Help prevent objections, refusals, or delays
Safeguard neighbouring amenity and avoid right to light disputes

What’s Included in Our Assessments?

All our assessments are fully compliant with the latest edition of Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight – A Guide to Good Practice (BR209) and the British Standard BS EN 17037. Each report typically includes:

Vertical Sky Component (VSC) – Measures skylight reaching existing windows

No Sky Line (NSL) – Assesses the distribution of daylight within rooms

Annual Probable Sunlight Hours (APSH) – Evaluates sunlight received at specific windows

Overshadowing – Reviews the impact on gardens, terraces, and communal outdoor areas

Solar PV Impact Assessments – Ensures solar panels are not compromised by development

We use advanced 3D software to simulate real-world lighting conditions and provide robust evidence suitable for submission to planning officers, committees, and appeal inspectors.

When Is an Assessment Required?

A Daylight and Sunlight Assessment is typically required in Manchester when:

A proposed development is close to neighbouring dwellings
There are concerns about overshadowing of gardens, balconies, or amenity space
The local authority requests it as part of a planning application
The proposal may breach privacy, overshadow adjacent plots, or reduce natural light

Our Manchester team has worked with developers, housebuilders, and planning consultants on major schemes across the city and wider region.

Why Choose Anstey Horne?

We are nationally recognised experts in daylight and sunlight analysis. Our Manchester-based consultants offer:

Deep knowledge of local planning policies and urban design
Fast and responsive service
Clear, objective and reliable reporting
Support with appeals, expert witness services, and planning negotiations

From tower schemes in the city centre to residential masterplans in the suburbs, we tailor our approach to fit your project’s size, complexity, and planning stage.

Projects We Support

We regularly deliver assessments across:

Manchester City Centre (including NOMA, Northern Quarter, and Deansgate)
Salford Quays and MediaCityUK
Ancoats, Ardwick, and Hulme regeneration zones
Trafford, Didsbury, Chorlton, and Stockport suburbs
Commercial, residential, mixed-use and education sector projects

Contact - Daylight and Sunlight Assessment Manchester

For Daylight and Sunlight advice direct from one of our Manchester surveyors, please call our Enquiry line in 0161 528 7690. For more information on this service see the collection of articles on our blog page.

We cover all urban areas in the North of England. We have live Daylight & Sunlight projects in Manchester, Salford, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool and Bradford.

See links to our recent projects in Manchester at the Dakota Hotel and Eider House.

For details of our specialist Daylight & Sunlight surveyors near you see our London, Birmingham, Bristol, Norwich & Plymouth office details.