Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas

Chapter 7 The home and its setting
Introduction
7.0 Previous chapters have focused on the design and layout of housing
schemes or neighbourhoods, and have reiterated the importance of
achieving higher residential densities in appropriate locations. It has
been shown how well-designed development can contribute
significantly to sustainability, and it is of fundamental importance to
the acceptability of such development by the public that the quality
of design and finish extends also to the individual dwelling and its
immediate surroundings. Residents are entitled to expect that their
new homes will offer decent levels of amenity, privacy, security and
energy efficiency.
Daylight, sunlight and energy efficiency
7.1 The orientation of the dwelling and its internal layout can affect
levels of daylight and sunlight, and will thus influence not only the
amenity of the occupants but the energy demand for heat and light.
The efficiency gains derived from passive solar estate layouts (see
chapter 4) can be enhanced by designing individual dwellings so that
solar collection is maximised, i.e. when living rooms, dining rooms
and main bedrooms have a southerly aspect.
7.2 Overshadowing will generally only cause problems where buildings
of significant height are involved or where new buildings are located
very close to adjoining buildings. Planning authorities should
require that daylight and shadow projection diagrams be submitted
in all such proposals. The recommendations of “Site Layout Planning
for Daylight and Sunlight: A Guide to Good Practice” (B.R.E. 1991) or
B.S. 8206 “Lighting for Buildings, Part 2 1992: Code of Practice for
Daylighting” should be followed in this regard.
7.3 It is Government policy to increase the share of energy generated
from renewable sources. The Planning Regulations were amended in
2007 to allow the erection or installation of certain micro-renewable
technologies within the curtilage of a dwelling without planning
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Planning Guidelines