Right of light is one of those areas that catches people out — it’s separate from planning permission, and a project that’s got planning consent can still run into a right of light problem. Here’s what it means and why a survey can save you a serious headache.
What is right of light?
Right of light is a legal right that an existing building can acquire to receive a certain amount of natural light through its windows. In England and Wales it’s typically established after light has been enjoyed through a window for 20 years. If you put up a new building or extension that significantly blocks light to a neighbour’s window that benefits from this right, they may have grounds for a legal claim — potentially forcing changes to your design, or even, in some cases, the removal of part of a completed structure.
Why it matters for your project
Crucially, this is a private legal right between property owners — it’s not something the planning system protects you from. You can have full planning permission and still face a right of light claim. That’s why it’s something to understand early, before you’ve spent money on a design or started building.
What a right of light survey does
A right of light survey assesses how much light reaches the relevant windows and how your proposed development would affect them. It identifies whether there’s likely to be a problem, how serious it might be, and helps inform whether you need to adjust the design or take further advice. Done early, it lets you design around the issue rather than discovering it the expensive way.
If you’re planning a build or extension in Bath, the Cotswolds or Gloucestershire and there are neighbouring windows in the picture, it’s worth checking the position before you commit. Get in touch and we’ll talk you through it.
