8. LIGHTING STATEMENT NORTH SPROWSTON AND OLD CATTON OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION OCTOBER 2012
1. Introduction The requirements for public lighting at North Sprowston and Old Catton (NS&OC) must be considered in light of complementary factors such as design ethos, wildlife habitat, community safety and public amenity, both for residents of the scheme and those living in the vicinity. The guiding principle is that, as well as meeting safety and visibility standards, lighting should enhance the built form and minimise both energy use and impact on both wildlife and adjacent areas. Detailed lighting proposals, which will be developed at reserved matters stage, will therefore seek to meet the following general objectives: • minimising upward light transmission in order to minimise light trespass and mitigate any potential adverse impact on wildlife or local amenity; • minimising street clutter by mounting street lanterns on buildings wherever possible; • employing to the fullest possible extent light equipment controlled by photoelectric cells to switch on at appropriate times according to the season and being capable of switching at lower lux levels to reduce energy use (including a central monitoring system capable of part night switching and dimming).
2. Lighting types The following lighting zones, all of which have different requirements, can be identified: • streets. Lighting to streets will meet the adoptable standard of the local authority except where formally agreed otherwise in order to meet the needs of essential ecological mitigation; • individual buildings. This type of lighting would be low-level luminance and much of this will be contained within the development, though there will be some sky glow. The resultant light impact would be very limited in the context of the existing neighbouring built development; • open spaces. These will have limited lighting and not form wide blankets of light; and • courtyard parking areas. These will be lit to the lowest luminance levels appropriate to ensure safety, and generally at a low level so that there is minimum light pollution. Lighting will be coordinated across the site and between different zones to ensure there are no 'bright' spots or 'dark' spots. Lighting will come on line at different development stages.
3. Lighting and wildlife A number of sensitive species exist on site, including various types of bat. The potential effects of lighting on these species are considered in the Environmental Statement. There will be a precise specification for lighting associated with or adjacent to spaces that have a critical wildlife role in the hours of darkness. These include Beeston Park and its buffer, Red Hall Park and the Old North Walsham Road. This specification will be agreed with the Local Authority, in consultation with relevant bodies, during the detailed design of the relevant phases of development, but is envisaged to include: • • • • •
the use of white light as opposed to yellow light; minimising upward scatter; facing lanterns away from wildlife corridors; fitting appropriate shields and hoods to lanterns; dimming to varying degrees after a certain time.
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4. Construction During construction, work will normally occur in daylight hours and therefore it is not anticipated that there will be major artificial lighting requirements. Any external lighting required will be of a temporary nature and task-specific. It will also be controlled to the lowest luminance level required to undertake the task and ensure work is undertaken in a safe environment.
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