Lighting Management Plan - International Dark-Sky Association

Exterior Lighting Management Plan 

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Lighting Management Plan 

Prepared for – Brecon Beacons National Park Authority 

By James H Paterson BA(Hons), CEng, FILP, MCIBSE 

Lighting Consultancy And Design Services Ltd. 

Rosemount House, Well Road, 

Moffat DG10 9BT 

Lighting Consultancy And Design Services Ltd Page - 1 - 

Rosemount House, Well Road, Moffat, DG10 9BT Tel: 01683 220 299


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Contents 

Brecon Beacons National Park – Dark Sky Reserve 

External Lighting Management Plan 

1 Preamble 

1.1 Introduction to Lighting Management Plans 

1.2 Introduction to Brecon Beacons National Park 

1.3 The Astronomers’ Point of View 

1.4 Night Sky Quality Survey 

1.5 Technical Lighting Data 

2 Dark Sky Boundaries and Light Limitation Policy 

2.1 Dark Sky Reserve - Core Zone 

2.2 “Fully Shielded” concept visualisation 

2.3 Dark Sky Reserve - Buffer Zone 

2.4 External Zone – General 

2.5 External Zone – Immediate Surrounds 

3 Performance Requirements – General 

3.1 Recommendations for non residential outdoor lighting 

3.2 Roadmap for Traffic and Residential Area lighting 

3.3 Non-photometric Recipe method for domestic exterior lighting 

4 Permitted and Non-Permitted Lighting Applications 

5 Existing Lighting 

5.1 General 

5.2 Core Zone Lighting Inventory 

5.3 Critical Buffer Zone Domestic / Farm / B&B Lighting Inventory 

5.4 "Control" Village Domestic Lighting Inventory (Representative) 

5.5 Critical Buffer Zone Commercial Lighting Inventory 

5.6 Summary Table of all Four Inventories 

5.7 Brecon Beacons Buffer Zone Public Lighting Town Totals 

5.8 Luminaire Profiles 

5.9 Brecon Public Lighting Inventory 

5.10 Other "Public" Lighting in National Park 

6 Summary of Brecon Beacons Dark Sky Reserve Plan Statements 

Appendix A – Definitions 

Appendix B – Night Sky Brightness Nomogram 

Appendix C – Commercial luminaire examples for Environmental Zone E1 

Appendix D – Domestic Lighting – Equipment Profiles 

Appendix E – Domestic Lamp Wattage and Lumen Output Chart 

Appendix F – Property Self-Audit Guidelines – The Next Step 

Appendix G - Design / Planning Guidance Note 




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1 Preamble 

English 

1.1 Introduction to Lighting Management Plans 

The provision of and also the continued working to a 

Lighting Management Plan is an essential element, 

required by the International Dark Sky Association 

(IDA), when considering the initial merits of their Dark 

Sky Award process and also their continued monitoring 

of the night sky quality. The IDA also have the option 

of withdrawing their support of any award if future sky 

measurements show a marked decrease in star 

visibility. 

Therefore in addition to forming an essential part of a 

Dark Sky Reserve application for appraisal by the IDA 

the ongoing purpose of this Lighting Management Plan 

(LMP) is to provide a base document of advice and 

recommendations for the National Park Authority and 

commerce alike. Its use will help to mitigate the effects 

of stray and obtrusive light, often generally referred to 

as “light pollution”, from all exterior lighting whether the 

lighting is intended for domestic, public, agriculture or 

commercial use. To this end the document is not 

regulatory but will outline strategies of best working 

practice to follow in both :- 

 

 

Planning for lighting with appropriate design 

and planning guidelines 

and 

Appropriate choice of lighting fixtures and 

correct lighting installation practice 

This plan’s principal aim is to provide practical advice 

on mitigating stray light, which astronomers may find 

obtrusive, within the boundaries of Brecon Beacons 

National Park, which is situated in the south of Wales. 

Although the advice given is relative to the park all the 

guidelines can be equally followed in the other parts of 

the adjacent counties. This will help to protect, 

maintain or even, hopefully, improve the existing dark 

sky attributes and the rural environmental setting of 

intrinsic darkness, which is enjoyed by Brecon 

Beacons residents. 

All National Parks are administered by their National 

Park Authority which exists:- 

Welsh Translation 

1.1 Cyflwyniad i Gynlluniau Rheoli Golau 

Mae darparu Cynllun Rheoli Golau, a gweithio yn unol 

â chynllun o’r fath yn barhaus, yn elfen hanfodol sy’n 

ofynnol gan y Gymdeithas Awyr Dywyll Ryngwladol, 

wrth ystyried rhinweddau cychwynnol ei phroses 

Dyfarniad Awyr Dywyll a hefyd ei monitro parhaus o 

ansawdd awyr y nos. Gall y Gymdeithas hefyd ddewis 

tynnu ei chefnogaeth i unrhyw ddyfarniad yn ôl os bydd 

mesuriadau awyr yn dangos gostyngiad amlwg i 

welededd sêr yn y dyfodol. 

Felly, yn ogystal â bod yn rhan annatod o gais am 

werthusiad Gwarchodfa Awyr Dywyll gan y 

Gymdeithas, diben parhaus y Cynllun Rheoli Golau 

hwn yw cynnig dogfen gyngor ac argymhellion 

sylfaenol i Awdurdod y Parc Cenedlaethol a byd 

masnach. Bydd ei ddefnyddio yn cynorthwyo i liniaru 

effeithiau golau strae ac ymwthiol, y cyfeirir ato’n 

gyffredinol yn aml fel “llygredd golau”, o bob math o 

olau allanol boed y bwriedir i’r golau gael ei ddefnyddio 

at ddibenion domestig, cyhoeddus, amaethyddol neu 

fasnachol. I’r diben hwn, nid yw’r ddogfen yn 

rheoleiddiol, ond bydd yn amlinellu strategaethau o 

arfer gweithio gorau i’w dilyn o ran:- 

 

Cynllunio ar gyfer goleuadau â chanllawiau dylunio a 

chynllunio priodol 

a 

Dewis priodol o osodiadau golau ac arfer gosod 

goleuadau cywir 

Prif nod y cynllun hwn yw darparu cyngor ymarferol ar 

liniaru golau strae, y gallai seryddwyr ei ystyried yn 

ymwthiol, o fewn ffiniau Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau 

Brycheiniog, sydd wedi ei leoli yn ne Cymru. 

Er bod y cyngor a roddir yn ymwneud â’r parc, gellir 

dilyn yr holl ganllawiau yn y rhannau eraill o’r siroedd 

cyfagos hefyd. Bydd hyn yn cynorthwyo i amddiffyn, 

cynnal neu hyd yn oed, gobeithio, wella priodweddau 

awyr dywyll a’r awyrgylch amgylcheddol gwledig o 

dywyllwch cynhenid a fwynheir gan drigolion Bannau 

Brycheiniog. 

Gweinyddir pob Parc Cenedlaethol gan yr Awdurdod 

Parc Cenedlaethol sy’n bodoli:- 

 

To conserve and enhance the natural 

beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the 

National Park. 

and 

I warchod a gwella harddwch naturiol, bywyd 

gwyllt a threftadaeth ddiwylliannol y Parc 

Cenedlaethol. 

Ac 

 

To promote opportunities for the 

understanding and enjoyment of the 

special qualities of the National Park by 

the public. 

The protection of the remaining dark night sky 

fulfils key elements in both of these two national 

objectives. 

I hybu cyfleoedd i’r cyhoedd ddeall a mwynhau 

nodweddion arbennig y Parc Cenedlaethol. 

 

 

Mae gwarchod awyr dywyll y nos sy’n weddill yn 

bodloni elfennau allweddol yn y ddau amcan 

cenedlaethol hwn. 




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1.2 Introduction to Brecon Beacons National Park 

There are 14 National Parks in Britain with three of those parks in Wales namely Snowdonia, 

in the north, Pembrokeshire, in the south west, and Brecon Beacons in the mid south of the 

country. The general location of the park is shown in Figure 1.1. 

Brecon Beacons 

National Park 

(see next page for 

enlargement) 

© Crown copyright and database rights 

2011 Ordnance Survey 100024878 

Figure 1.1 – General location of Brecon Beacons National Park 




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The park is 520 square miles and provides an area of peace and tranquillity just north of the 

heavily urbanised area of south Wales, famed for its coal mining industry in past years. This 

industry has declined recently leaving some of the towns with a decreasing population. 

When the park boundaries were being drawn up in 1957 several large urban settlements 

were excluded to assist in maintaining a tranquil setting, however, the settlements of Brecon, 

Crickhowell, Gilwern and Hay-on-Wye were included although they have expanded with 

time. From the 2001 census there were 32,654 people living within the park and some 46% 

of this total reside in these 4 settlement areas. 

Libanus Visitor Centre 

Craig-y-nos Visitor Centre 

Youth Hostel 

Figure 1.2 Brecon Beacons National Park 

The landscape of the 520 square miles has a high proportion of rural upland and dominated 

(about 2/3rds) by four distinct blocks of red sandstone hills stretching across the park from 

east to west. The Black Mountain (Y Mynydd Du) (802m), Fforest Fawr (Great Forest) is a 

series of low lying hills, the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) an escarpment rising to 

886m and a further group of hills called The Black Mountains with the highest point of 811m 

on Waun Fach near the park and Welsh boundary. This range of high ground plays a very 

important role in the natural shielding of light pollution, from the urbanised areas like 

Rhondda and Merthyr Tidfil areas just south of the park boundary, for residents living north 

of the Brecon Beacons. 

Each of those rock blocks give rise to many rivers, glacial lakes, reservoirs and valleys 

containing a rich heritage of historical culture and providing a host of beauty spots including 

waterfalls, natural caves and bronze age settlement remains. In landscape classification 

terms a National Park has greater planning protection significance than an Area of 

Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the conservation of landscape and environment 

heritage is uppermost in the Brecon Beacons National Park. 




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Within the park boundary 

there are 79 Sites of Special 

Scientific Interest (SSSI's), 

where the very best examples 

of wildlife and geology can be 

found. Of these there are 17 

SSSI's within the proposed 

Core Zone. 

In July 2011 a research team 

located rare night loving 

Silurian Moths within the 

Hatterill Hill SSSI. 

There are also seven National 

Nature Reserves, four of 

which will be within the rural 

remoteness of the proposed 

Core Zone. 

Figure 1.3 View of Beacons from Upper Cantref looking south west 

Additionally there are 7 smaller Nature Reserves. In recognition of the richness of its 

scientific qualities, stunning landscapes, historical or cultural interest and more importantly 

educational value the creation of the Great Forest (Fforest Fawr) Geopark was established 

in 2005. This area, in the western half of the national park, is approximately 300 square 

miles and could contain the proposed core zone of the Dark Sky Reserve. 

There are 11 conservation areas where repairs and reconstruction works on many buildings 

are carefully controlled by planning guidelines with restrictions in pursuance of the unique 

character of Brecon Beacons settlements. Although there are conservation areas close to 

the proposed core zone, the conservation of intrinsic darkness is uppermost in this 

document. 

There are approximately 2 million residents living within easy reach (1 hour drive) to people 

living in South Wales and Bristol. There are probably more than 5 million living within a 2 

hour drive from the Midlands. The Brecon Beacons is the closest mountainous area to 

London. Tranquillity is a special feature of National Parks and the Authority are encouraged 

to provide recreation that involves “quiet enjoyment”. The introduction of astronomy 

facilities fits into this tranquillity outreach. Amateur astronomers also form part of the 

tourism outreach to attract more visitors as is now recorded in other Dark Sky award 

areas. 

As part of the education outreach programme the Brecon Beacons NP call on two visitor 

Centres and a Youth Hostel (shown in Figure 1.2) where primary, secondary or further 

education groups can meet to learn more about conservation in the outdoor environment. 

The visitor centre at Libanus is located at over 300 metres above sea level and enjoys 

splendid isolation with easy access to a wide variety of habitats and dark landscapes and 

this makes it an ideal open location for night time astronomy workshops. 

The protection of the existing dark night sky over the National Park is crucial in this 

tourist outreach objective. 

This Lighting Master Plan (LMP) only uses the uniqueness relating to the exterior lighting 

issues and does not intend to diminish the importance of the many other unique issues in the 

National Park area. 




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The Brecon Beacons National Park boundary is included within nine Local Municipal 

Authorities although two share an area of only 4 hectares within the park boundary. The 

remaining five with their percentage within the park area are:- Powys (66%), 

Carmarthenshire (16.7%), Monmouthshire County Councils (11%), the District Councils of 

Merthyr Tydfil (1.8%) and Rhondda/Cynnon/Taf (4.2%). In addition to the South Wales 

Highways Agency, which maintains the motorway and trunk road network, these five local 

authorities maintain a total of at least 3,200 street lighting units within the park boundary. 

Although the local authorities provide community services within their respective boundaries 

like highway maintenance, street lighting and environmental health facilities the overall 

planning and building control is governed by the National Park Authority. However, the land 

ownership, within each park, is split between several owners. 

Brecon Beacons land ownership is divided between the following:- 

Brecon Beacons National Park Authority 13.5% 

Forestry Commission 7.7% 

Welsh Water 4.2% 

National Trust 3.7% 

Farmers (majority holding) 70% 

Although there are about 1250 farms making up this 70% ownership at least 

35% of the park area is termed "Commons" to which the public have the 

freedom to wander. 

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (often known as the CRoW Act) in England 

and Wales sets a legal duty on public bodies to have regard to conserve and enhance 

natural beauty and it updates the original law which created National Parks. The CRoW Act 

commons for "Open Access" are shaded yellow on Ordnance Survey "Explorer" maps. 

In addition to the many public highways, which pass through the park, there are 1,800 public 

rights of way with a total length of 1,232 miles (1,983 Km) accessible by cycle, horse or 

simply walking to appreciate the park’s tranquil settings. 

Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (The Authority) is empowered with planning 

control within the park boundary and all planning applications require approval by 

The Authority. Therefore the adoption of this External Lighting Management Plan 

recommendations will ensure that there will be no further degradation in the quality of 

the night sky due to future developments within the Park boundary. 




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1.3 The Astronomers’ Point of View 

More than 20 years ago the British Astronomical Association (BAA) forged links with the 

Institution of Lighting Engineers (ILE) (renamed in 2010 as the Institution of Lighting 

Professionals (ILP)) to open discussions on the plight of amateur astronomers. The problem 

was that views of the stars at night were being diminished by stray upward artificial light from 

outdoor lighting. This included elements such as old style street lighting and poorly installed 

floodlighting installations, as well as other commercial, advertising and domestic lighting. 

There are many reasons why obtrusive light should be prevented but there are two prime 

objectives for adequate control and they are:- 

To minimise the problems it creates for human beings, plants and animals 

thereby improving amenity and biodiversity. 

Reduce unnecessary consumption of electricity and demands on fossil fuels 

thereby minimising carbon footprint and global pollution. 

Combating poor light control for astronomers assists in achieving both of these prime 

objectives but this is only part of an international obtrusive light control issue. 

This document has been commissioned with the prime objective of promoting the use of the 

intrinsic darkness of Brecon Beacons to view the stars in the night sky. The document 

therefore concentrates on mitigating any obtrusive light elements which could cause a 

nuisance, from both the astronomers’ and residents’ viewpoint, by:- 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintaining or improving the night sky darkness as a background to view the star 

constellations. 

Promoting a good practice working document for Brecon Beacons commercial and 

agricultural use, and to be accessible by residents, hoteliers and any other tourist 

related promotion. 

Promoting the use of quality domestic lighting equipment with good light control. 

Encouraging improvement, adaptation or changing of existing lighting equipment. 

Creating a benchmark to achieve International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR) status for 

Brecon Beacons National Park from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) . 

Unlike some other countries the UK has no regulatory governing body which provides 

exterior lighting, however, Professional Institutions such as the ILP, the Society of Light and 

Lighting (SLL), the Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) and British Standards all 

provide illuminating engineering background advice and recommendations for engineers to 

follow and adapt to suit different geographic locations. 

Likewise it is important to understand that apart from Brecon Beacons National Park 

Authority (the Authority) owned property it has no statutory powers to change or alter 

conditions or standards on existing private or commercial property. This role lies in the 

hands of Brecon Beacons residents, farmers, commerce and local authority managers to 

work in partnership and adopt the good practice principles outlined herein. However, The 

Authority has the power to deny permission to future developments within the National Park 

which includes external lighting which does not conform with its Lighting Guidelines and will 

encourage developers to mitigate light pollution by using appropriate and suitable design. 




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1.4 Night Sky Quality Survey 

The quality of the night sky in the Brecon Beacons National Park was evaluated by 

astronomers from the University of Glamorgan and Dark Sky Wales. This quality survey 

gives an assessment of night sky quality within the Park and establishes a benchmark that 

future surveys can be measured against. 

1.4.1 Methodology 

To ascertain the darkness of the entire park, 36 sites were located covering a N-S and E-W 

axis crossing the park in a “double W” pattern. Urban locations within the park in addition to 

its uninhabited areas were included to give a balanced reading of the sky quality across the 

whole national park and to identify areas of concern for the Park Authority. Measurements 

of the sky darkness were made at least 2 hours after local sunset on dates spread over a 

period of 14 months. They were taken with three separate Unihedron Sky Quality Meters 

(model SQM-L), which records the visual magnitudes per square arc-second over an area of 

approximately 42 degrees of sky. 

In all over 200 readings were taken in assessing the quality of the Park’s night sky. 

Calibration of the SQM was achieved by pointing the meters at a dark background in a dark 

room. The lowest reading on the SQM is given in the instructions as 24.00, but readings of 

24.02, 24.07, 24.01 and 23.98 were obtained over three nights, which give a mean of 24.02 

with a probable error of +/- 05 per reading – which was negligible, falling well within the 

ranges of two readings per SQM. 

All measurements were obtained by pointing the SQM at the zenith, then taking two 

recordings before determining a mean reading. Once this was obtained a naked eye limiting 

magnitude (NELM) can be determined using a conversion tool provided by the Omaha 

Astronomical Society. The conversion is accurate to a hundredth of a magnitude. 

Stellar magnitudes are measured using a logarithmic scale in which each magnitude differs 

from the next (brighter or fainter) by 2.512, or 2.5 times as bright/faint. The standard star in 

astronomical use for calibration is Vega (alpha Lyrae) with a magnitude of 0.0. 

In astronomical measurement of magnitude, a brighter object has a lower number whilst 

fainter objects have higher numbers. On this scale the faintest magnitudes measured in the 

survey were 366.5 times fainter than Vega. 

The sky quality, depending on magnitude, were then reduced to the Bortle scale a 

recognised dark sky determination tool used by astronomers. Visual estimates of stars and 

other deep sky objects for levels of transparency and sky clarity were also made. 

1.4.2 Findings 

The faintest magnitudes recorded within the park boundary were at the car park of the Usk 

reservoir, an accessible beauty spot, with a recording of 21.56 on the meter resulting in a 

NELM of 6.41. It was generally found that western areas in the park were the darkest (see 

Figure 1.6) as there was little light encroachment from the towns and villages or that of the 

South Wales urban area to the south. 

Dark areas of note within the eastern boundary of the park were found at Cwmyoy, Capel y 

Ffin, Cwmdu, Pengenffordd and Llangorse Lake. This area is not currently designated as 

Core locations, but this may be addressed in future evolution of the Park and its anti Light 

Pollution strategy and SQM mean values are displayed in Figure 1.7. 




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The mean SQM value and associated NELM results across the BBNP were - 

Proposed Core Zone: 21.22 / 6.23 For details of zones see Section 2 

Critical Buffer Zones: 21.21 / 6.22 

Urban Areas: 19.77 / 5.32 

Other Dark Areas of the BBNP: 21.29 / 6.27 

BBNP excluding Urban Areas: 21.29 / 6.24 

BBNP: 21.03 / 6.13 

(See Table 1.1 for the consolidated set of measurements) 

The darkest SQM reading in the National Park = 21.56. 

The following readings are only included as a general comparison with other dark areas in 

the UK and should not be used as an absolute measurement value since the SQM meters 

used may not have been calibrated at the same time, the measurement methodology may 

have been different and the weather conditions will certainly have been different. 

Darkest reading in Galloway Forest = 22.7 

Darkest reading on the Isle of Sark = 21.5 

Darkest reading in Exmoor = 21.8 

The Brecon Beacons National Park (BBNP) would appear to have dark sky standards 

comparable to other areas in the UK recognised by the IDA. 

The globular clusters Messier 13 (Mag 5.8), Messier 3 (Mag 6.2) and Messier 5 (Mag 6.6) 

were clearly visible with the unaided eye, the galaxy Messier 81 (Mag 6.9) was also visible 

with a little averted vision and 34 stars were counted in Coma Berenices (Melotte 111). 

The brightest, most polluted skies were found unsurprisingly in the urban areas with the town 

of Brecon reading at an average NELM of 4.56. Comparing the best magnitude estimate of 

the park with that of Brecon results in a difference of 2 magnitudes, a difference between 

seeing stars 6.25 times fainter in the darker areas of the park than in the main town only a 

few miles away. The night view of Brecon shown in Figure 1.4 was taken prior to the 21.30 

hours sports field lighting curfew and shows one example of poor light pollution control. 

Figure 1.4 Brecon by Night 




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1.4.3 Conclusions 

The Brecon Beacons National Park is very dark with stars down to magnitude 6.41 visible, a 

best SQM measurement of 21.56, and a Bortle scale rating of between 3 and 4. This is 

especially remarkable as the Park itself has a population of 32,652 (c.2001) within its 

boundaries and there over 1,000,000 people living in the Welsh valleys only a few miles to 

the south of the Park. 

With so many people with poor night sky quality in such close proximity, the BBNP has 

considerable potential for dark sky tourism. 

The dark skies of the Park are of great value and well merit the protection by the BBNP 

Authority. 

Notes: 

The full report (which was also submitted to the British Astronomical Association) by Martin 

Griffiths (Senior Lecturer in Astronomy, University of Glamorgan) is available on request and 

is enclosed in the IDA submission package. 

See Appendix B for a Nomogram comparing the various measures of sky darkness. 




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Table 1.1 Sky Quality Measurement locations and SQM values 

Site No Grid Ref GPS Location 

First 

SQMV 

Second 

SQMV 

Mean 

Naked Eye 

Limiting 

Magnitude 

1 SO055128 N51.48.27 W03.22.24 Pontsticyll reservoir 20.34 20.71 20.52 5.83 

2 SO035174 N51.50.48 W03.24.03 Neuadd Reservoir 20.92 20.89 20.9 6.06 

3 SO055175 N51.50.52 W03.22.25 Craig y Fan Ddu 20.84 20.77 20.8 6.08 

4 SO107205 N51.52.33 W03.18.15 Talybont Reservoir 20.95 21.02 20.98 6.14 

5 SO086258 N51.56.10 W03.20.08 Llanfrynach 21.03 20.98 21 6.12 

6 SO128227 N51.53.45 W03.15.59 Bwlch 21.1 21.05 21.08 6.16 

7 SO157171 N51.50.45 W03.13.27 Llangynidr Hill 20.89 20.94 20.91 6.06 

8 SO128272 N51.56.07 W03.16.13 Llangorse Lake 21.26 21.25 21.25 6.25 

9 SO154338 N51.59.31 W03.23.27 Talgarth 20.34 20.27 20.3 5.69 

10 SO255314 N51.58.43 W03.05.16 Capel Y Ffin 21.46 21.5 21.48 6.37 

11 SO294232 N51.54.11 W03.01.45 CwmYoy 21.4 21.47 21.44 6.35 

12 SO219187 N51,51.31 W03.08.08 Crickhowell 19.86 19.97 19.91 5.43 

13 SO181242 N51.55.10 W03.11.14 CwmDu 21.22 21.26 21.24 6.25 

14 SO172301 N51.58.57 W03.13.54 Pengenffordd 21.33 21.32 21.33 6.35 

15 SO039285 N51.56.47 W03.23.54 Brecon 18.78 18.69 18.73 4.56 

16 SN974286 N51.56.45 W03.29.36 The Old Lodge 21.43 21.39 21.41 6.34 

17 SN917285 N51.56.39 W03.34.33 Sennybridge 20.03 20.05 20.04 5.52 

18 SN896295 N51.56.47 W03.37.47 Trecastle 21.46 21.42 21.44 6.35 

19 SN854266 N51.56.04 W03.39.51 Cwm Hydfer 21.48 21.51 21.49 6.38 

20 SN840247 N51.54.34 W03.39.29 Ffynnon y Gwyddau 21.51 21.52 21.51 6.39 

21 SN835285 N51.56.38 W03.41.55 Usk Reservoir 21.57 21.55 21.56 6.41 

22 SN820271 N51.55.03 W03.43.02 Pont y Wysg 21.47 21.43 21.45 6.36 

23 SN755245 N51.54.15 W03.48.42 Twynllanan 21.39 21.43 21.41 6.34 

24 SN730192 N51.51.13 W03.50.31 Pen Rhiw Ddu 21.35 21.33 21.34 6.31 

25 SN720151 N51.48.30 W03.54.14 Brynamman Info 20.14 20.06 20.1 5.56 

26 SN668193 N51.51.12 W03.56.02 Carreg Cennan 21.25 21.29 21.27 6.26 

27 SN840161 N51.50.16 W03.40.29 Dan yr Ogof Caves 21.31 21.32 21.32 6.29 

28 SN886210 N51.54.52 W03.35.12 Crai Reservoir 21.47 21.5 21.48 6.37 

29 SN924191 N51.51.19 W03.45.36 Maen Llia 21.39 21.43 21.41 6.34 




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Table 1.1 continued 

Site No Grid Ref GPS Location 

Lowest 

SQMV 

Highest 

SQMV 

Mean 

Naked Eye 

Limiting 

Magnitude 

30 SN878264 N51.56.02 W03.28.40 Mountain Centre 21.49 21.56 21.52 6.39 

31 SN982204 N51.52.19 W03.28.46 Storey Arms 21.48 21.54 21.51 6.39 

32 SN989185 N51.51.38 W03.28.16 Beacons reservoir 21.49 21.58 21.53 6.4 

33 SO005131 N51.48.30 W 03.26.43 Garw Nant 21.18 21.23 21.21 6.23 

34 SO011119 N51.47.47 W03.26.14 Llwyn On reservoir 20.98 20.99 20.99 6.11 

35 SN946085 N51.38.42 W03.30.40 Penderyn 20.58 20.62 20.6 5.88 

36 SN929124 N51.46.36 W03.55.49 Ystradfellte 20.87 20.93 20.9 6.06 




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21 = 21.56 

28 = 21.48 

30 = 21.52 

31 = 21.51 

19 = 21.49 

29 = 21.41 

22 = 21.45 

32 = 21.53 

20 = 21.51 

23 = 21.41 

5 = 21 

26 = 21.29 

24 = 21.35 

29 = 21.41 

4 = 20.98 

27 = 21.32 

2 = 20.9 

3 = 20.8 

Measurement Site Number = SQM Mean Value 

(See Table 1.1 for full set of site numbers and SQM readings) 

1 = 20.52 

Figure 1.6 Sky Quality Measurement sites near the proposed core area 




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14 = 21.33 

13 = 21.24 

8 = 21.25 

9 = 20.3 

10 = 21.48 

6 = 21.54 

7 = 20.91 

11 = 21.44 

12 = 19.91 

Measurement Site Number = SQM Mean 

(See Table 1.1 for full set of site numbers and SQM readings) 

Figure 1.7 Sky Quality Measurement sites in the Eastern areas of BBNP 




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1.5 Technical Lighting Data 

It is not possible to produce a document on light control without introducing some light 

technical parameters and when used they will be defined as required with an appendix 

summary of technical definitions. 

Basic Lighting Terms 

Detailed explanations of basic lighting terms can be found in Appendix A but in this 

document the three lighting terms most commonly used for expressing values of light are: 

lumen 

candela 

illuminance 

Describes the total amount of light given off by a bare lamp. 

(abbreviation: lm (sometimes klm for 1000lm)) 

Describes the intensity (I) of light in a particular direction. 

(abbreviation: cd) 

Describes the amount of light falling on a surface area 

in lumens / square metre. (abbreviation: lux) 

This LMP has been devised, principally, to control different forms of stray light. First, and 

foremost, is upward light which can obscure night-time astronomical observations when it 

reflects off air- borne particles of water or dust. The effect is commonly known as sky glow. 

However, direct light sources close to any field of observation are also problematic and are 

discussed later. 

In addition to sky glow, astronomers do not like to see 

a visible source of light either and luminaires with a 

light source larger than 1000 lumens should be what 

the IDA call “fully shielded” from view, ie a completely 

flat glass window mounted horizontally, as shown in 

Figure 1.9 (right). 

Non-technical terms like this will be explained and 

mixed with technical descriptions later. 

Figure 1.9 “Fully Shielded” luminaire 

The IDA term of “fully shielded” and other non-technical terms like high beam, semi cut-off, 

cut-off, fully cut-off and aero-screened were formerly used in the UK to categorise a 

luminaire’s light distribution. These luminaire category terms disappeared from the lighting 

industry usage in Europe and the UK some 30-40 years ago but sometimes still appear in 

UK planning publications. These old, non technical, terms have therefore been reinstated, in 

this LMP, but with more accurate technical descriptions with recommended limitations on 

intensity values in Section 2. 

The IDA term “Fully Shielded” is synonymous with the old UK term “Horizontal Fully Cutoff” 

and is the preferred term used in this LMP. 

Upward light and source intensity limitation are only two of four aspects of stray light control 

explained in two complementary technical publications on the limitation of obtrusive light 

namely:- 

 

The Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) (formerly ILE) ‘Guidelines for the 

Control of Obtrusive Light’ (Undergoing continued revision) 

and 

The Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) Technical Report 150:2003 

‘Guide on the limitation of the effects of obtrusive light from outdoor lighting 

installations’. 




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Both documents support the concept of setting out environmental zones based on the night 

time ambient light in the area. They then go on to recommend differing degrees of stray light 

control for each of 4 environmental zones. In previous years the most onerous limitations 

were in the zone of darkest ambience namely Environmental Zone E1 but the newest edition 

of the ILP guidelines (2011) includes an even more severe restriction in a new zone 

numbered “E0” where no new artificial lighting will be permitted. 

Brecon Beacons National Park has a total population of about 32,654 (2001), however, just 

under 50% of this figure is concentrated in the Usk valley which runs between Brecon and 

Abergavenny. The remainder of the park is predominantly rural with about 1,200 farms but 

there are no very large areas free of human habitation. However, a cohesive area of about 

166 square miles may be large enough to warrant the application of this strict E0 regime 

even although it includes a few existing residences. The remainder of the National Park 

does, however, fall into Environmental Zone E1 as outlined below in Table 1.2. Strict light 

control status in all UK National Parks has been recognised since the ILP first introduced the 

night time ambience zone classification in 1993 and a full description of light limiting factors 

for this and other adjacent environments will follow in Section 2. 

Table 1.2 Environmental Zones in the UK 

Zone Surrounding Night Environment Typical examples 

Number 

E0 Protected Dark Starlight Reserves, Dark Sky Parks 

or Islands, Typical of Core Zones 

E1 Natural Intrinsically dark 

National Parks, Areas of 

Outstanding Natural Beauty or 

Dark Sky Core Buffer Zones 

E2 Rural Low district brightness Village or relatively dark outer 

suburban locations 

E3 Suburban Medium district brightness Suburban residential / commercial 

or small town centre locations 

E4 Urban High district brightness 

Large town, commercial area or city 

centre with high levels of night time 

activity 

In addition to direct upward light limitations Dr Christopher Baddiley has shown in ‘Towards 

Understanding Skyglow’ (ILE:2007) that obtrusive glare from street lighting units, at or near 

the luminaire horizontal axis, can also diminish the astronomers’ observations. Accordingly 

the source horizontal intensity is also used in this LMP as a further means of providing both 

public nuisance reduction and better astronomical observations. 

Reference is therefore made to limiting intensity values emanating from lighting units. The 

traditional simplistic means of displaying intensity distribution information is by means of a 

polar diagram with angular intensity values. 

The polar diagram in Figure 1.10 (following) is a traditional way of illustrating a line of 

maximum intensity through the major and minor axis of a street lighting luminaire. For clarity 

Figure 1.6 shows only the major axis distribution for a street lighting luminaire ie the intensity 

of light emitted out of each side of the luminaire together with three angles where intensity 

limitations will be later applied to control horizontal and upward light, and a further two 

downward angles which are used in BS 13201 to control disability glare on the public road 

network. However, recent research has shown that downward intensity values at an angle 

of 70 degrees has an effect on the amount of light reflected upwards, off hard surfaces. 

Therefore the lower the values at 70 o and 80 o , the lower the reflected upward light. 




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Regardless of luminaire light distribution characteristics recent research has also, more 

importantly, shown that off highway light absorbing landscape such as natural grass can 

reduce, by half, the upward reflected light of the installation and the use of asphalt surface 

lowers by half the upward light reflected off concrete. 

(Landscape note:- Many rural commercial / industrial estates and car parks could be 

constructed, where appropriate, with asphalt surfaces rather than bare concrete if 

illumination is required or intended in the future.) 

Throughout this LMP Upward light control limitations are stated for the luminaire in 

its designed or “as-installed” condition on site and is not a factory measured 

intensity. 

Figure 1.10 - Polar Diagram of 

typical street lighting luminaire 

Also shows the angles and 

maximum intensity values for a 

“fully shielded (cut-off)” luminaire 

Imax above 95 0 = 0 candela 

Imax above 90 0 = 0 candela 

Imax at 90 0 = 0 candela 

Imax at 80 0 = 100 cd/klm 

Imax at 70 0 = 350 cd/k/lm 

Tables extracted from BS publications 

will show all 5 angles with restrictions 

relative to glare control but in this 

LMP the important angles will be the 

intensity of zero at 90 0 and above. 

Industry standard design software like “Lighting 

Reality” can be used to check luminaire “as 

installed” intensity values in a dynamic format 

as shown in Figure 1.11 at the design stage. 

Another technical way of describing the 

limitation of upward light from luminaires is 

called the Upward Light Output Ratio and the 

ILP are currently considering the values, in 

percentage terms, of the zonal flux in 2 upward 

zones, namely between 90 0 and 100 0 and 

between 100 0 and 180 0 . 

Figure 1.11 Dynamic output from Lighting 

Reality showing results at tilt angle 




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Task Illuminance 

Over a period of time most working tasks, and sports activities, have been analysed and 

researched. Recommendations have been relative to the quantity and quality of light 

required to carry out the task in comfort and safety. It is important to:- 

 

 

 

Provide the correct lighting levels for the task or sport game and grade playing level. 

Provide the lighting only when needed. 

Recognise that providing light in excess of the recommendations not only increases 

an unnecessary addition to sky glow but it also wastes energy and increases the 

carbon footprint. 

Some recommended lighting levels relative to rural situations are included in this LMP for 

reference information and to assist in providing initial benchmarks for defining appropriate 

light levels. 

The Roadmap shown in later sections of this LMP has been compiled from information in 

BSEN13201-2:2003 - ‘Code of practice for the design of road lighting’ (parts 1 and 2) and 

the European CEN Standards. It has been designed to provide a simple selection process 

for light levels and quality criteria, including obtrusive light controls. The road lighting solution 

is derived from assessment of environmental zones, user types, user volume and crime 

volume via a flowchart. 

It is hoped to extend this, or develop a similar process, for lighting management within the 

National Park. 

For task lighting on other outdoor work places reference should be made to BSEN 12464- 

2:2007 – ‘Light and Lighting – Lighting of work places’ (Part 2: Outdoor work places) but a 

few of the typical National Park area tasks are contained in Section 3.2. 

Within the boundary of the National Park it is important to note here that if there is 

“NO TASK” in operation there should be “NO LIGHT” and that the recommended 

values given could be reduced if “white” light sources are used (see technical reason 

later). 




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Lighting Management Plan – Section 2 




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2 Dark Sky Reserve Boundaries and Light Limitation Plan 

The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) promotes the concept of creating three zones 

to the dark sky area namely a Core Zone with no, or very few, external light sources, a 

Buffer Zone with strict stray light control to protect the Core and lastly an External Zone with 

slightly relaxed stray light control. 

This section covers the boundary methodology for each of these zones in and around the 

National Park area. It also covers the associated stray light restriction recommendations for 

each zone together with planning recommendations to mitigate problems with future 

applications containing external lighting. 

2.1 Dark Sky Reserve - Core Zone 

As described in Section 1.2 the central area of the park is dominated by four blocks of high 

ground, each separated to some extent by valleys containing farms and other inhabited 

areas. The widest valley, about 5 miles wide, contains the River Usk and a busy corridor of 

towns and villages between Brecon, in the north, and Abergavenny in the south east. This 

valley annexes the Black Mountains escarpment from the other three sections and therefore 

is excluded for consideration as part of the Core Zone. On its own it does have an area of 

zero inhabitation, however, this is much less than the combined area of high ground chain 

created by The Brecon Beacons, The Fforest Fawr and The Black Mountain. 

Figure 2.1 – Typical Core Zone slopes looking north towards Forrest Fawr 




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The “Open Access” Plan created by the CRoW Act was outlined previously in Section 1.2 

and its general boundary, with small deviations, which encompasses the three chain highground, 

has been chosen to define the Core Zone limits. The Beacons Way footpath joins 

many of the summits listed in the table below. 

Table 2.1 Hilltops in the Core Zone 

The Black Mountain Fforest Fawr The Brecon Beacons 

Tair Carn Isaf (460m) Fan Gyhirych (725m) Corn Du (873m) 

Tair Carn Uchaf (482m) Fan Fraith (668m) Pen y Fan (886m) 

Foel Fawr (493m) Fan Nedd (663m) Fan y Big (719m) 

Foel Fraith (602m) Fan Llia (632m) Craig Pwllfa (762m) 

Twyn Swnd (635m) Fan Fawr (734m) Allt Lwyd (654m) 

Fan Brycheiniog (802m) Fan Fnyrych (629m) Allt Forgan (513m) 

The extremes of the Core Zone boundary extend from east to west by about 28 miles. 

However, the boundary lines to the north and south are shaped by the many valleys and 

rivers flowing north or south from the mountain ridges. At its narrowest, where a north valley 

and a south valley coincide, the core is just over 1 mile wide but generally a distance of 

about 12 miles can exist between the north and south extremes. In area measurement terms 

the Core Zone contains 166 square miles (442.2 sq. km.) of land. The Core is therefore at 

least 32% of the total park area. 

The Core Zone boundary, as shown in Figure 2.2 has been devised to minimise human 

habitation and maximise on open land access by encompassing the following natural 

attributes of Brecon Beacons:- 

Many hill top burial cairns, stone circles, burnt mounds and field systems 

Two National Nature Reserves (Ofog Fftnnon-Ddu & Craig Cerrig Gleisiad) 

Two glacial lakes (Llyn y Fan Fach & Llyn y Fan Fawr) 

Three man-made Reservoirs 

Roman Camp and Hut Circles 

Land ownership within the Core Zone is split as follows:- 

National Trust 8.36 % 

National Park Authority 39.14 % 

Forestry Commission 6.66 % with remaining 18.19 % in private ownership. 

In order to maximise on "Open Access" a number of habitations have been included within 

the Core Zone although they have been clinically excluded by the CRoW Act boundary. This 

Lighting Management Plan intends to mitigate stray light from existing or new properties by 

adopting the ILP recommendations for night time Environmental Zone E0 and shown in 

Table 2.2. 

Table 2.2 Stray light control recommendations in Core Zone 

Light Limitations for Exterior Lighting Installations within Core Zone 

Night Time 

Environmental 

Zone 

Light Intrusion 

(into windows) 

E vertical (lux) 

Source Intensity 

I (cd) 

Sky Glow 

Upward 

Light 

Ratio 

% 

Precurfew 

Postcurfew 

Precurfew 

Postcurfew 

Maximum 

Luminance 

L (cd/m 2 ) 

Pre-curfew 

E0 0 0 0 0 0 0 




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Plan Statement Number 1 

Within the Core Zone boundary it is propose to maintain a policy of no 

additional permanent illumination installations. 




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Craig Cerrig Gleisiad 

Nature Reserve 

Storey Arms 

Outdoor Centre 

Ffoynnon-y-gwyddau 

+ 

Belfont and others 

Glyn Tarell 

Berth-lwyd 

fach & ganol 

Pant-y-rhiw 

Abercynafon 

Ofog Fftnnon-Ddu 

Nature Reserve 

Figure 2.2 Outline of Core Zone Boundary 

and property locations within Core 

Cefn Cule 

Hepste-fechan 

© Crown copyright and database rights 2011 

Ordnance Survey 100019322 2011 




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Figure 2.3 Storey Arms Outdoor Centre Figure 2.4 Hillside environment 

The Storey Arms Centre is the largest property 

in the Core Zone. It was converted about 

1976 to provide residential accommodation 

for Cardiff school groups. It is located in the 

centre of the Core Zone immediately adjacent 

to the A470 and its hillside environment 

provides isolation suitable for possible 

astronomy workshops. 

There is natural tree shielding round one 

side of the property, however, the front 

aspect adjacent to the A470 can be seen 

from the opposite valley hillside. 

The safety and security of residential 

school children require to be uppermost for 

the centre management team and the 

existing external floodlighting was installed 

accordingly but several years prior to this 

LMP. 

The remaining properties in the Core Zone are private with 16 houses, one with a horse 

training ménage and one farm. A detailed external lighting inventory for each property is 

included in Section 5.2, however, the summary in Table 2.3 shows that although there are 

67% compliant with the general IDA guidelines, only 2.5% comply with the recommendations 

outlined in Plan Statement Number 2 (see next page). This is a more stringent condition 

than the IDA’s but has been adopted by the National Park as an aspirational target. 

Table 2.3 Core Zone Lighting Summary 

Property 

Number of 

lights 

Number IDA 

Compliant 

Number Plan 2 

Compliant 

2.19 12 10 2 

2.34 20 11 1 

5.38 5 1 0 

5.39 15 6 0 

5.40 11 11 0 

10.12 0 0 0 

12.53 3 3 0 

15.04 4 4 0 

15.05 6 2 0 

15.06 1 1 0 

15.07 5 2 0 

15.08 7 2 0 

15.09 3 2 0 

15.10 12 12 0 

15.11 0 0 0 

15.12 4 4 0 

15.13 2 2 0 

15.14 2 2 0 

Total in Core Zone 112 75 3 




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Residents in the Core Zone are to be encouraged to limit the overspill light at 

their property boundary, or within 10 meters of the main residence, to no more 

than 0.05 lux and all existing lighting units to be replaced, through time, by 

“fully cut-off” examples regardless of the lumen output. 

Note: This is a more stringent condition than the IDA requirement but has been 

adopted by the Brecon Beacons National Park as an aspirational target. 

Deltalight LED Deltalight Zumtobel - 

Kont Smide - Torino Kont Smide - Torino Kont Smide - Modena 

Raytec 

B&Q (above) 

Norlys - Koster (right) 

Sitco + Others - Mini Flood 

All floodlights like this are 

designed to be mounted 

horizontally (not as shown in 

manufacturer's illustration ) 

Additional shielding as 

illustrated right can limit light 

at task area boundary 




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Figure 2.5 Typical external domestic fittings which can provide the objectives of Plan 

Statement Number 2 when mounted correctly 

2.2 “Fully Shielded” Concept Visualisation 

The upward light limitations of a “fully shielded” / horizontal fully cut-off luminaire is outlined 

in technical detail in section 1.5, however, to display the effects, in a non technical format, an 

electronic model village was constructed and illuminated firstly with traditional low pressure 

sodium street lights which are not fully cut-off and Figure 2.6 shows house details up to and 

beyond chimney pots level. 

Figure 2.6 Traditional Low Pressure Sodium distribution - 

The luminaire positions were then replaced by luminaires with flat glass and mounted 

horizontally with an equivalent wattage consumption using LED light sources. 




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Figure 2.7 Luminaires with Fully Cut-Off distribution showing distinct lack of upward 

spill light detail. 




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2.3 Dark Sky Reserve – Buffer Zone 

It is a general recommendation that all Core Zones require an area of protection surrounding 

the very strict limit of no, or very little, artificial light with one of less severe limitations. As 

outlined in Section 1.5 the status of light control within any National Park has been 

recognised since the first publication of the ILP “Obtrusive Light Guidelines” in 1993 as being 

that of a night time environmental zone E1. As such this provides, for the remainder of the 

park a general Buffer Zone limit of many miles distant round the core zone. This LMP 

encourages continuance of this classification but proposes a two step approach within the 

park boundary. The IDA recommends that an external lighting audit is carried out on all 

lighting within the Buffer Zone but the quantity of lighting, within the BBNP boundary, would 

take too long to collect. It is therefore proposed that a Critical Buffer Zone is established 

with a generalised edge (not a boundary limit) of about 1½ miles (about 2Km) as a 

representative fraction of lighting typical of Brecon Beacons area in general. 

2.3.1 Critical Buffer Zone 

As can be seen from the previous map in Figure 2.2 the Core Zone has a very irregular 

circumference. The main irregularities arise from the presence of many valleys etched out of 

the hillside. Most of these valleys are about 1 mile wide and many contain farm and private 

dwellings, therefore, they have not been enclosed by the “Open Access” CRoW Act 

boundary. This LMP proposes that the main valleys, some 15 in number, are recognised as 

the Critical Buffer Zones between the Core Zone and the remainder of the park area (the 

Buffer Zone for the rest of the surrounding country external to the BBNP boundary). A map 

of the Core Zone boundary is repeated in Figure 2.9 with each Critical Buffer Zone valley 

identified by a survey number eg. 

#1 

The twin valleys in survey area #3 is shown in 

Figure 2.8. 

Figure 2.8 Typical valley cut out of the high-ground 




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Figure 2.9 Map showing Critical Buffer Zones round Core Zone 

BBNP Visitor Centre 

Libanus 

#14 

#15 

#16 

#1 

#2 

#3 

#4 

#5 

#12 

#11 

#6/7 

#10 

#8 

BBNP Visitor Centre 

Craig y nos 

#9 

For geographic details in each survey section 

see 1:25000 scale boundary drawing #..... 


Rosemount House, Well Road, Moffat, DG10 9BT Tel: 01683 220 299 

© Crown copyright and database rights 2011 

Ordnance Survey 100019322 2011


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The open end of valley #2 has been extended to 

include properties up to the BBNP Visitor Centre 

near Libanus where astronomy workshops will be 

undertaken. 

The open outlook to the south provides extensive 

views of the Core Zone and the height of the 

range provides natural shielding of the 

urbanisation further south. 

Figure 2.10 BBNP Mountain Visitor Centre, Libanus 

In each of the valleys which creates the Critical Buffer Zone, identified in Figure 2.9, there 

are a few small hamlets and a few street lights, however, in general habitation consists of 

private residences or farm buildings. Within the Critical Buffer Zone approximately 300 

properties were identified and a property by property external lighting audit was carried out. 

A full set of the lighting audit survey results is given in section 5, however, in summary form, 

of the 964 lighting units found in these zones there are currently about 70% dark sky 

compliant based on the limit of 1000 lamp lumens or less being deemed compliant. Many of 

the non-compliant relate to the installation of security style floodlights although in general 

terms several have natural tree leaf shielding and are seldom used in the summer months. 


The Authority will encourage that no lighting will be allowed to be projected 

from the adjacent light permitted buffer zones into the Core Zone and any 

overspill lighting from lights in the Critical Buffer Zone to be no greater than 

0.05 lux (horizontal) at ground level or 0.05 lux vertical at 1 metre (or higher) 

above ground on the Core Zone side of the property boundary. 

Although there are many variations on a theme to be found in the Critical Buffer Zone there 

are principally 3 different luminaire styles: Heritage (Figure 2.11.1), Bulkheads (Figure 

2.11.2), and Floodlights (Figure 2.11.3). 

Figure 2.11.1 Figure 2.11.2 Figure 2.11.3 

A few other styles were also found but the important element is not the style of the luminaire 

but its associated lamp output and more importantly the distribution of light being emitted. 

Most of the tungsten halogen floodlights use lamps which have an output greater than 1000 

lumens. At least 224 were found with an elevated angle as illustrated in Figure 2.11.3. To 

be fully compliant with the IDA recommendations, the glass window should be totally 




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horizontal as shown previously in Section 1.5 (Figure 1.5). (See Appendix F for a future 

improvement process) 


Luminaires in the Critical Buffer Zones using lamps greater than 1000 lumens 

will be recommended to be installed as a Fully Cut-Off (IDA term “fully 

shielded”). 

Bulkhead style luminaires should be fitted with lamps less than 1000 lumens even although 

they may have an upper hood purportedly limiting upward light. A luminaire such as shown 

in Figure 2.11.2 with an 18watt compact fluorescent lamp (“energy saving light bulb”) can 

provide a vertical illuminance value of 0.1 lux at least 22 metres from the source and also 

provide visual perception of light on tree tops some 150 meters distant. Although it may not 

be possible to measure the quantity of illumination at this distance it is the visual perception 

of the light reflecting effects, which causes concern for both astronomers and neighbours 

alike. 

The IDA recommend that the spill light at a property boundary is not greater than 0.1 lux, 

which is about 1/3 of the light from a full moon. Illuminance can be measured with a light 

meter but a rule of thumb guide which links the lamp lumen usage to property footprint size 

is included in section 3.1. 

As well as providing careful control of spill light it is equally important to avoid over-lighting 

an area as that found illuminating a small building frontage with seven floodlights in a side 

street in Brecon. Where possible this LMP provides task illuminance recommendations and 

some alternative solutions to address in the future. 


Residents of Brecon Beacons National Park are to be encouraged to limit the 

overspill light at their property boundary to no more than 0.1 lux. 

(Residents within the Core Zone have stricter recommendations see Statement 2) 

With the exception of the large pole mounted heritage style luminaires as shown in Figure 

2.12 most domestic heritage style luminaires are designed and labelled with a maximum 

tungsten filament lamp wattage of 60 watts (11watts Compact fluorescent), both producing 

less than 1000 lumens, and although 

they have very little light control can 

generally be classified as IDA 

compliant for the moment. The lower 

the wattage the better the compliance. 

In some residences the heritage style 

luminaire was found to be located in a 

door porch area. This approach 

provides a good method of limiting 

stray upward light. Additionally some 

residents have installed 8 watt, or less, 

compact fluorescent lamps, which are 

often all that is necessary to provide 

some light round a doorway in the 

intrinsic darkness of Brecon Beacons. 




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Figure 2.12 Good example of Heritage Luminaire 

with rear light limiter, lamp recessed in canopy hood and 

light distribution using pot-optic. 

A lamp wattage and lumen output chart for domestic style lamps is given in Appendix E and 

guidelines for an individual property self-assessment style audit with recommendations on 

what to do to better the existing conditions is given in Appendix F. 




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2.3.2 Remainder of Buffer Zone (remainder of National Park) 

Many of the villages in Brecon Beacons have no street lighting system and some have two 

or three located at strategic locations in the village rather than providing a cohesive street 

lighting system. The location of the remaining towns and villages with a cohesive street 

lighting system totalling more than 10 units are shown in Figure 2.13, however, four of the 

five local authorities, who own and maintain the street lighting, have statements already 

contained in their own lighting policy plans to re-introduce part night lighting (ie on at dusk 

but switching off about midnight and back on again about 5am until dawn). 

As outlined in Section 2.3 no audit was undertaken for domestic lighting units in the 

remainder of the park Buffer Zone due to the quantities involved, however, as shown in 

Table 2.3 the surveyed quantity, within the Critical Buffer Zone, resulting compliance 

percentage is equivalent to other UK Dark Sky applications. The survey contained data from 

domestic and commercial properties and when separately analysed the domestic 

compliance percentage increased to 72% with an additional 15% of non-compliant 

floodlights connected to presence detection devices. Although deemed non-compliant this 

15% group are not providing continuous illumination. Additionally the overall 70% may 

appear to be less than other previous applications the quantity surveyed is very much larger 

than previous applications. 

Table 2.4 Comparison of Percentage Compliant 

Dark Sky Application 

Quantity 

Surveyed 

Quantity 

Compliant 

Percentage 

Compliant 

Brecon Beacons Park Reserve 964 681 70% 

Exmoor National Park Reserve 693 539 77% 

Isle of Sark Dark Sky Island 582 436 75% 

Galloway Forest Park 374 263 70% 

In order to test the domestic average in a different section of the park another audit was 

carried out in Pennyclawdd, a village without street lighting, located in the eastern area of 

the park about 3 miles north of Abergavenny. The audit details of this village are included in 

Section 5.4 and this shows that 80% of the domestic external lighting is IDA compliant. It 

could therefore be reasonable to assume that 72% will be replicated or bettered in the 

remainder of the Buffer Zone. 

Accordingly the National Park should be maintained in this pristine condition. Where new or 

replacement external lighting is required the most onerous light control conditions should be 

applied to maintain this condition. To assist in this objective, Section 2.3.3 contains 

recommendations on luminous intensity recommendations for new luminaires, with a lamp 

output greater than 1000 lumens. For domestic style luminaires with no intensity data 

Section 3.1 contains a lumen recipe evaluation method. 

Although the domestic lighting audit was limited to the Critical Buffer Zone a Public Lighting 

Audit was also collected and is displayed, together with typical luminaire profiles in Section 

5.7 to 5.10. Of particular interest in this section are the number of street lighting units which 

have already been fitted with flat or low profile glass and the quantities are more than double 

an anticipated IDA perception for at least 10% to be flat glass. Figure 2.13 shows a map of 

the town or village locations which contain street lights. 




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Powys 

Penyclaudd 

Figure 2.13 Map showing Street Lighting systems (> 10 units) round Core Zone 




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In Environmental Zone terms the residents round the Core Zone live with and 

enjoy intrinsic darkness equivalent to Environmental Zone E1. Towns within 

the Brecon Beacons boundary with a population greater than 900 may relax 

the conditions of this Environmental Zone in the town centre where buildings 

provide natural screening but not in exposed locations. 

(See Table 1.2 for Environmental Zone definitions). 

2.3.3 Light Limitation Parameters 

Luminous intensity from a luminaire is derived from photometric information, which has been 

measured under laboratory conditions. These measured values describe the luminaire’s 

light distribution in 3D numeric electronic format (commonly known as I-tables). 

From the I-table for a particular luminaire and its installed angle of elevation the intensity of 

light at different elevation angles can be computed and classified in glare classes, namely 

G1 to G6. G1 is the most relaxed and G6 is the most restrictive and this is the recommended 

restriction, with selective relaxation, which should be applied throughout the National Park as 

shown in table 2.5. 

Table 2.5 - Intensity limitation in Brecon Beacons (excluding Core Zone) 

Dark Sky Zone 

Requirements 

Between Core Zone and 

nearest population 

cluster > 900 

Residential buffer 

between town centre and 

rural remainder (or 

centre of town with < 

900) 

Town Centre with 

population > 900 

(excluding heritage style 

Glare 

Class 

Maximum luminous intensity 

in cd/klm 

at at at above 

70 0 80 0 90 0 az 95 0 az 

az az 

Non technical 

description of 

luminaire light control 

in installed condition 

G6* 350 100 0 0 Fully cut-off 

installation in 

environmental zone 

E1 

G5- 

derivative 

350 100 5 0 Cut-off installation 

G4 500 100 10 0 Part Cut-off 

installation 

streets) 

Heritage bowl style G4 500 100 10 0 

Heritage gas style G4+ 500 100 20 0 

External to NP for 5 

miles beyond Park 

boundary (lamps < 

20,000 lumens) 

All luminaires with lamps 

greater than 20,000 

lumens between Core 

Zone boundary and 5 

miles external to NP 

G3 . 100 20 2.5% 

Semi-Cut-off 



E2 

G6** 350 100 0 0 Fully cut-off 

installation 

regardless of night 

time environmental 




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boundary 

(see next page for notes on stared items) 

zone 

Note az Table 2.3 restrictions apply to the luminaire’s installed angle of inclination (azimuth) 

which can be tested in UK industry standard design calculation software. 

Note * Intensity relaxation may be appropriate at 70 0 and 80 0 depending on luminaire 

availability but the values of zero intensity at 90 0 , 95 0 and above are crucial. 

Note ** Requires discussions with adjacent land owners and local authorities to adopt 

similar controls in their individual environmental Plan. 

An example of some luminaires with light sources greater than 1000 lumens and complying 

with the upper intensity limits of table 2.5 are shown in Appendix C. 

In addition to the intensity controls presented in table 2.4 further light limitation 

recommendations are contained in table 2.6, below, to mitigate any obtrusive light in an E1 

Environmental Zone and the two tables should be considered in tandem at the design stage 

for all new exterior lighting in the National Park. 

The ILP and CIE describe ‘curfew’ as the time after which stricter requirements (for the 

control of obtrusive light) will apply. After ‘curfew’, most lighting should be extinguished or 

reduced as activity levels decline. 

Although very few residents leave external lighting on longer than presence detection there 

are a few situations where lights are left on all night, sometimes by accident. The time of 

22.00 hours is suggested as ‘exterior light curfew’ time for the National Park at which point 

users will be encouraged to extinguish or reduce the quantity of lighting unless there are 

previously agreed planning conditions which contain an earlier curfew time. 

Table 2.6 - Obtrusive Light Marker Points 

Light Limitations for Exterior Lighting Installations within Brecon Beacons 

boundary 

Night Time 

Environmental 

Zone 

Light Intrusion 



Source Intensity 

I (cd) 

Sky Glow 

Upward 

Light 

Ratio 

% 

Precurfew 

Postcurfew 

Precurfew 

Postcurfew 

Maximum 

Luminance 

L (cd/m 2 ) 

Pre-curfew 

E1 0 2 0 2,500 0 0 

E 1.05 1% 2 0 3,000 0 1 

E 1.10 1% 2 0.5 4,000 100 2.5 

Illuminated 

advertising signs 0 0 0 100 0 50 

Refer to Section 3 for information on time switches and other switching regimes. 


All new lighting within the Brecon Beacons will be encouraged to be designed 

and installed to provide lower glare or intensity values, where possible, than 




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that recommended by the Institute of Lighting Professionals (LP) for night time 

Environmental Zones. 

In order to prevent medium district brightness from adjacent “non-national park” lighting 

creeping closer to the intrinsic darkness within Brecon Beacons, Table 2.3 and Section 2.5, 

later, contains recommendations to reduce the elevation angle of existing or proposed high 

wattage / high output luminaires in the External Zone (see Section 2.4). This requires 

discussions to encourage adjacent developers or Planning Committees to work towards 

adopting similar controls in their individual environmental policy plan. 

Figure 2.14 Diagram showing combination of intensity and environment 

recommendations (refer to Table 2.3 and 2.4 for full descriptions) 

National Park Boundary 

Lit Village = G6 & E1 

Reserve Core Zone 

= E0 

no new lighting 

Town with pop. < 900 

= G5 & E1.05 

Town remainder = G5 & E1.05 

Any luminaire > 20,000 

lumen lamp 

= G6 & E1 

Centre of town 

with pop. > 900 

lamps < 20,000 lumens 

= G4 & E1.10 

National Park Boundary 

Any luminaire > 

20,000 lumen lamp 

= G6 & E1 

Any Trunk Road 

= G6 and E1 

Any luminaire < 

20,000 lumen lamp 

= G3 and E2 

5 miles 5 miles 

5 miles 

Most domestic luminaires provide very little light control and very few are measured 

photometrically in the same manner as commercially available luminaires. Accurate 

intensity or illuminance values cannot therefore be predicted by computer calculations and a 

different method of calculation is required. Section 3.3 therefore contains a method 

recommended by the IDA which provides a guide to the number of lumens based on the 

footprint size of the property for all new domestic style lighting. 

Care for the night time environmental control should be part of the process when selecting 

all new domestic equipment. Examples of domestic luminaires with good and poor light 

control can be found in Table 3.6 and Appendix D. 




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All design submissions for new lighting in the Brecon Beacons should show 

evidence of compliance with the zero candela intensity at 90 0 and above and 

encourage domestic luminaires to be selected from units having some form of 

upward light control. 




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2.4 External Zone – General (Typically 5 miles beyond Park Boundary) 

Since the Authority has no jurisdiction in the area beyond their park boundary this section 

explains how planners and engineers need to work in partnership, both within and external 

to the park, to help maintain or enhance the Dark Sky Reserve. In this National Park the 

external distance of 5 miles is typical but not definitive for large wattage installations. 

As indicated in the Preamble the guidance given in this document will assist in the defence 

of the existing dark sky over the National Park. However, there is a national problem with 

obtrusive light. Part of the problem emanates from the random standards of some planning 

applications containing external lighting proposals. 

The lack of a published lighting design & assessment methodology has resulted in planning 

applications, being presented in a variety of formats, sometimes with a few extracts from 

manufacturers’ catalogues and scant calculation techniques. This has created major 

difficulties in appraising applications both subjectively and technically. 

A new ILP document focuses on the lighting aspects of creating a Lighting Impact 

Assessment. Whilst most of these are effects on people and their perception of the 

surroundings, assessments must also include effects on flora, fauna and wildlife. A 

summary of some of the sections covered are included below. 

Table 2.7 Typical Lighting Impact Assessment Checklist 

Baseline Descriptions 

Lighting Impact Assessment - Checklist 

Baseline Assessment Procedures 

Day time visit 

Night time visit 

Viewpoint Scheduling 

Baseline Assessment Layout 

Location Plan 

Brief Description 

Viewpoint Pages 

Baseline Summary 

Proposed Development – Lighting Design 

Design – General 

Preliminary Assessment 

Provisional Design 

Final Design 

Maintenance Factors 

In addition to the ILP rational covering the process of carrying out Lighting Impact 

Assessments the Scottish Executive have published a complementary Planning Guidance 

Note (Controlling Light Pollution and Reducing Energy Consumption) which provides a 

rationale to all lighting design proposals. 




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An abbreviated 12 point summary checklist of the design methodology is shown in Table 2.6 

below but reference to the full document will provide the reasoning behind a 20 bullet point 

checklist. This LMP should encourage Development Control Committees, both within the 

Authority and adjacent Local Authorities, to insist on a thorough design process by the 

developer before submitting proposals. (See Appendix G for full explanations) Although only 

12 points are included in Table 2.8 these should be treated as an absolute minimum 

requirement and there are no reasons why the full 20 point plan is not set as a standard 

requirement. 

Table 2.8 

Design Methodology Checklist 

Good External Lighting Design Practice 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Survey of surrounding area environment 

Identification of critical viewpoints or receptors 

Analysis of task lighting level recommendations and game level if 

sports lighting application 

Establish environmental light control limits 

New lighting design quality objectives 

Calculated measurement of Task working area(s) 

Overspill area(s) 

Obtrusive light calculation of Property intrusion 

Viewed source intensities 

Direct upward light output ratios 

Compare design achievement with baseline values 

Schedule of luminaire types, mounting height and aiming angles 

Schedule of energy usage and lumens per square metre 

Schedule of luminaire profiles 

Layout plan with beam orientation indication and site relationship 

with surrounding residential and commercial properties 


Through the Lighting Management Plan it will be possible for the Authority to 

provide a basis for discussion with its neighbours on various options to help 

reduce upward light transmission. 




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2.5 External Zone – Immediate Surrounds 

No inventory was undertaken in the External Zone, however, as in section 2.3.3 if the 

following Tables 2.9 and 2.10 are used in tandem, at the design stage, they may mitigate 

obtrusive elements in new installations. 

Table 2.9 - Luminaire Intensity distribution recommendations in External Zone 

Dark Sky 

Requirements 

External for 5 miles 

beyond Park 



All luminaires with 

lamps greater than 

20,000 lumens 

between Core Zone 

boundary and 

5 miles distant from 

National Park 

boundary 

Glare 

Class 

Maximum luminous intensity in 

cd/klm 


70 0 az 80 0 az 90 0 az 95 0 az 

Non technical 

description of luminaire 

light control in installed 

location 

G3 . 100 20 2.5% Semi-Cut-off installation 

in environmental zone 

E2 

G6 350 100 0 0 Fully cut-off installation 

The mileage limits shown in Table 2.9 assume that no other, more restrictive intensity 

limitation, external Plan is in place. 

Table 2.10 - Typical Obtrusive Light Maker Points for External Environmental Zone 

CIE / ILP Obtrusive Light Limitations for Exterior Lighting Installations 

Light Intrusion Source Intensity 

Environmental 

Zone 



I (cd) 

E1 – for lamp 

lumens > 

20,000 

E2 - For 5 

miles beyond 

park boundary 

limit with rural 

setting 

E3 / E4 for 

Merthyr / 

Rhonda 

Sky 

Glow 

Upward 

Light 

Ratio 

% 

Precurfew 

Postcurfew 

Precurfew 

Postcurfew 

Building 

Luminance 

L (cd/m 2 ) 

Pre-curfew 

0 2 0 2,500 0 0 

2.5 ** 5 1 7,500 500 5 

5 10 2 10,000 1,000 10 

15 25 5 25,000 2,500 25 

** Upward Light Ratio for luminaires in External Zone using lamps less than 20,000 lumens 

otherwise 0% for lamps greater, up to a distance of 5 miles beyond park boundary. 




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Builth Wells 

14 miles 

Hay on Wye 

Nynydd Preseli 

National Park 

14 miles 

15 miles 

10 miles 

Carmarthen Bay 

20 miles 

Bristol 

Figure 2.15 – Map showing National Park boundary relative to surrounding External Area 

20 miles 




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Lighting Management Plan – Section 3 




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3 Performance Requirements - General 

Luminaires are designed to have light distributions which are appropriate for specific 

applications. Even though a luminaire has a Dark Sky Fixture Award it can produce sky 

glow, light intrusion or glare if it is installed incorrectly with an upward aiming angle. At 

lighting design stage, by following the recommendations relating to intensity and vertical 

illuminance limits should mitigate the obtrusive nature of stray light. Industry standard 

software, complete with obtrusive light evaluation criteria eg Philips Calculux is 

downloadable from their web site. 

Although described in the External Zone section, all planning applications involving external 

lighting should follow the Lighting Impact Assessment outlined in Section 2.3, described 

more fully in Appendix G, whether it is in the National Park or in the External Zone beyond 

the park boundary to ensure that intensity and obtrusion are mitigated accordingly. 

Over-lighting an area is just as obtrusive and wasteful as pushing light into the night sky. 

Designing for, and providing, the correct task illuminance on the ground is just as important 

as controlling stray light. The next sections look at task luminance or illuminance to suit the 

holistic need of the area’s environmental night-time ambience. 

Switching Regime 

Many commercial premises have labels attached to light switches to say “switch off lights 

when room is not in use” and some buildings have energy management systems which 

automatically detect occupation and adjust accordingly. External lighting should be similarly 

treated, not only to limit energy usage but also to reduce the impact on the night sky. 

Section 2.2 introduces a night curfew time after which exterior lighting should be switched off 

or reduced in quantity. 

Powys and Carmarthenshire County Councils are now implementing part night lighting 

throughout their respective public road lighting networks. Within the National Park boundary 

Powys has already implemented the changes in Brecon. The switching off times are slightly 

different but generally they will be extinguished between about midnight and 5.30am as part 

of their respective energy and CO 2 reduction policies. 

Some road and motorway lighting in the UK now have energy management built into the 

luminaire control gear to dim the street lighting depending on the volume of traffic. The 

same principles could equally apply to new lighting which is installed within the National 

Park. Monmouthshire have implemented this type of control in Abergavenny and there has 

been press coverage of the Council remotely switching off a few lights so that a school 

student could view a passing comet. Such a system requires electronic control gear to 

operate the lamp and this is the preferred option within the park boundary. Some road 

lighting luminaires can be fitted with a presence detection regime, however, the cost to 

implement this advanced regime may preclude implementation. 

As far as domestic exterior luminaires are concerned many can be purchased with a 

combined passive infra-red (PIR) presence detector and photoelectric switch unit (PECU) to 

do the same work as a commercial building management system. A push button time 

delay switch is just as good and it has the added advantage over PIR detection in that 

the luminaires will not be turned on by cats, dogs or other wildlife movement. 




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All residences in the Buffer Zone should be encouraged to adopt some form of light 

reduction after the ‘curfew’ time. Even if the luminaire is not fitted with presence or darkness 

detection some DIY stores supply programmable light switches which are designed to 

replace existing internal manually operated switches. 


All residential and business occupiers in the Brecon Beacons will be 

encouraged to switch off or reduce their exterior lighting quantity at 22.00 

hours. 

3.1 Recommendations for non residential outdoor lighting 

3.1.1 Work Task Lighting 

The preferred method of designing lighting is by following the performance method of task 

illuminance selection process from either BS EN12464-2:2007 “Light and Lighting – Lighting 

of work places – Part 2 Outdoor work places”, and a few examples have been extracted and 

shown in Table 3.1 for easy reference, or from BS EN 12193:2007 “Light and Lighting. 

Sports Lighting” (see also the CIBSE Sports Lighting Guide). 

Table 3.1 – Illuminance for typical tasks within Brecon Beacons 

Ref 

No. 

Type of area, task or activity 

Eav 

lux 

Uo GR L R a Remarks 

Farms 

5.5.1 Farm Yard 20 0.10 55 20 

5.5.1 Equipment Shed (Open) 50 0.20 55 20 

5.5.3 Animals sorting pen 50 0.20 50 40 

Farmland Sport 

Equestrian (outdoor event) 100 0.50 55 20 

Industrial sites and Storage 

5.7.1 Short term handling of large units 

and raw material, loading and 

unloading of solid bulk goods 

5.7.2 Continuous handling of large 

units and raw material, loading 

and unloading of freight, lifting 

and descending location for 

cranes 

20 0.25 55 20 

50 0.40 50 20 Probably no sites 

like this in Brecon 

Beacons 

5.9.1 Parking Areas – See Roadmap 

20 

in section 3.2 following 

Simple Summary for safety 

and security 

Very low risk 5 0.25 55 20 

Low Risk 10 0.40 50 20 

Medium Risk 20 0.40 50 20 

High Risk 50 0.4 45 20 

Key to table abbreviations 

Eav = Maintained average illuminance 

Uo = Overall uniformity 

GR L = Glare Rating limit (for internal work visibility benefit and not a visibility measure from outside the site) 

R a = minimum colour rendering index 




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Most of the recommended values shown in Table 3.1 have been based on the premise that 

a lamp with a low colour rendering index will be used as shown in the column headed ‘R a ’. 

The colour rendering index of a standard high pressure sodium lamp (SON) (yellow coloured 

light) is about 20 but the colour rendering index of ceramic metal discharge lamp (CMD) 

(true white light) is in the order of 65. 

Various research projects, carried out over several years, have proved that human vision 

works better with high order colour rendering and in some tasks the illuminance value can be 

reduced if ‘white’ light is used instead of ‘yellow’ light. 

Although monochromatic low pressure sodium light is simple to filter out of astronomical 

observations a well controlled, zero upward light, white light source should be a more 

acceptable compromise with some energy saving advantages. Filtering out certain 

wavelengths of artificial light, however, has the effect of reducing the visibility of low 

magnitude stars by a factor of at least 4 (equivalent to 2 F-stops in a camera aperture). 

Illuminance recommendations are based on a numeric system to replicate visually 

perceptible increasing steps as shown in Table 3.2. This table also shows the illuminance 

step difference between low colour rendering lamps and high colour rendering lamps. 

Table 3.2 – Illuminance comparisons based on colour rendering index (R a ) 

Colour 

Rendering 

Task Maintained Average Illuminance Steps (lux) 

Index 

R a < 60 2 3 5 7.5 10 15 20 30 50 75 100 200 300 

R a > 60 2 3 5 7.5 10 15 20 30 50 75 100 200 

The roadmap in Section 3.2 shows this technique in operation on public highways and 

amenities, however, BS 13201 recommends that the lowest value of 2 lux should not be 

reduced to the anticipated value of 1 lux on a public highway. 

There is no visual reason why 1 lux cannot be used on private paths or roads within 

the National Park where appropriate and only if lighting is found to be necessary. 

Although ocular vision research has proved a case of improved visual acuity with “white 

light” current health research in the UK and the USA is studying the effect of “blue rich” white 

light on the mental well being of humans and animals. The IDA are considering limiting the 

use of some lamps which radiate light at or below 450 nanometers in the Core Zone. (See 

Appendix A for Colour Temperature and coloured spectrum distribution of commonly used 

external light sources). This may not a practical proposition in the UK since it could 

eliminate the use of all discharge light sources except low pressure sodium in the 

Core Zone. However, since there are no streetlights in the Core Zone, as an interim 

measure in the park remainder this LMP suggests that light sources which have a colour 

temperature of 3,200 0 K or less should be used in preference to 6000 0 K, especially in 

residential areas. 




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3.1.2 Sports Lighting 

With a growth in leisure pursuit comes a growth in the need to extend the hours that play 

areas can be used and there are several game areas in Brecon Beacons with floodlighting 

facilities but some have poor light control. Nationally some sports areas contain some of the 

worst cases of over-lighting and it is essential that this does not happen in or around Brecon 

Beacons. 

BS EN 12193:2007 “Light and Lighting. Sports Lighting” contains both indoor and exterior 

lighting recommendations for not just the players but also the audience, the referees, the 

cameras and last but not least the neighbours. It also contains recommendations for lighting 

designers in the form of typical calculation areas and the number of calculation points to 

include in any assessment. 

The illuminance recommendations are based on the quality of the game. There are 5 levels 

of competition from Inter-National to Recreational, all with different illuminance requirements. 

Table 3.3 shows some of these extremes. 

Some manufacturers provide free design 

outlines as shown in Figure 3.1 but that is only 

a very small part of sports lighting design 

considerations. It is also essential to consider 

light overspill and intrusion, especially when 

the sports field is close to residential property. 

In order to protect the existing dark sky over 

Brecon Beacons any new sports facilities 

requiring floodlights it is essential to ensure the 

playing surface is not over lit. 

Double asymmetric flat glass luminaires should 

be used with the luminaire window completely 

horizontal as shown in Figure 1.9 and 3.2. 

It may also be necessary to limit the average 

illuminance to that of recreational level 

depending on the distance the sports facility is 

from the Core Zone. (see Appendix A for the 

definition of ‘average’). 

Figure 3.1 – Typical Football Area - Free Design 

Note:- Free Design like this never includes the impact on the surrounding landscape. 

Table 3.3 - Game maintained average illuminance extremes 

Game National Recreational 

Football, Rugby, Basketball, 500 lux 75 lux 

Netball, Volleyball 

Equestrian and Cycle Racing 500 lux 100 lux 

Hockey and Tennis 500 lux 200 lux 




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Figure 3.2 – Tennis Court lighting good example 

This is a pictorial example of a fully cut-off luminaire 

installation. 

The IDA term for this installation is “fully shielded” 

without applying additional external screens, hoods 

or louvers on the luminaire. 

Figure 3.3 - Example of good sports ground light control in Brecon 

Some luminaire manufacturers / suppliers, especially budget range DIY equipment, cannot 

provide photometric intensity tables. This precludes the use of computer algorithms to check 

either the essential information about fundamental illuminance values or check for obtrusive 

light situations. 

At design and planning application stages the answer is simple, do not propose the use of 

equipment which the manufacturer or supplier cannot provide photometric support and at 

installation stage do not substitute a non-photometrically measured equivalent look-a-like. 




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Selection Matrix Starter 

Main User Type Typical Speed 

of Main User 

Excluded UserType 

Pedestrian & Cyclist Walking Speed Motors, Slow Vehicles 

& Motor Cycles 

Vehicle conftict 

and shop users 

Situation 

Set 

Remote Path - Set 8 

"Shops" - Set 7 

10-30 MPH "Streets" - Set 7 

Car Parks - Set 6 

Residential vehicles, 10-30 MPH Heavy goods vehicles Set 5 

Cycles & Pedestrians 

Motorised traffic & 

Slow vehicles 

20-40 MPH Minor / Rural- Set 4 

Secondary - Set 3 

Motorised Traffic 30-70 MPH None Set 2 

Motorway 

Regulations 

70+ Slow vehicles, cycles 

& pedestrians 

Set 1 

Set 1 - Luminance Design Objectives 

Typical Network:- Motorway&Motorway Link Roads 

Traffic Flow ADT 40,000 

Lav Uo Ul TI SR Lav Uo Ul TI SR 

Complex Interchange 2.0 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 2.0 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 

Junction 

Spacing 

3Km 

1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 2.0 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 

1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 

Hard Shoulder 0.75 0.4 0.6 10% 0.5 0.75 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 


Typical Network:- Strategic Routes, Trunk and some Principal "A" roads 

Main Distributor Routes or 

Routes between Strategic routes with peak time parking restrictions 

Traffic Flow ADT 15,000 >25,000 

Lav Uo Ul TI SR Lav Uo Ul TI SR Lav Uo Ul TI SR 

Single Normally 1.0 0.4 0.7 15% 0.5 1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 2.0 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 

Carriageway 

>10,000 

& E3 or E4 

1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 

Above only with on street 

parking, otherwise as below 

Dual Carriageway 1.0 0.4 0.7 15% 0.5 1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 


Typical Network:- Secondary Distributor ("A,B & C" Classified) 

Unclassified Urban Bus Routes 

Urban Collector Road 

1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 

Traffic Flow ADT Low District Brightness Medium District (E3) High District Bright. E4 

Lav Uo Ul TI SR Lav Uo Ul TI SR Lav Uo Ul TI SR 

< 7,000 

7,000 - 15,000 

> 15,000 

> 25,000 

0.75 0.4 0.6 10% 0.5 1.0 0.4 0.5 15% 0.5 1.0 0.4 0.7 15% 0.5 

1.0 0.4 0.6 10% 0.5 1.0 0.4 0.6 15% 0.5 1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 

1.0 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 

1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 1.5 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 2.0 0.4 0.7 10% 0.5 


Typical Network:- Local Rural Roads & Rural Bus Routes = 40MPH or less 

Residential or Industrial Interconnecting Roads 

Minor single carriageway & Link Roads between Secondary Distributors 

No 

Parking 

Parking 

Traffic Flow ADT 

< 7,000 

9,000 use Set 3 

3.2 Requirements for Traffic and Residential Area Lighting 

Low District Brightness Medium District (E3) 

Lav Uo Ul TI SR Lav Uo Ul TI SR 

0.5 0.4 0.4 10% 0.5 0.75 0.4 0.5 15% 0.5 

0.75 0.4 0.5 10% 0.5 0.75 0.4 0.6 15% 0.5 

0.75 0.4 0.5 10% 0.5 0.75 0.4 0.6 15% 0.5 

0.75 0.4 0.5 10% 0.5 1.0 0.4 0.5 15% 0.5 

Residential 

Traffic 

Env. Zone 

Crime 

rate 

Set 8 - illuminance Design Objectives 

Typical Network:- Footpath, cycle way 

and non-town centre pedestrian area 

Pedestrian Flow Normal High 

Environmental Zone E1/2 E3 E4 E1/2 E3 E4 

Normal Crime Eav 2 3 5 3 5 7.5 

Emin 0.6 0.6 1 0.6 1 1.5 

High Crime Eav 7.5 10 15 10 15 20 

Emin 1.5 3 5 3 5 8 

Pedestrian Flow 

Measurement from IESNA 

in 1st hour of darkness 

Low = 10 or less 

Medium = 11 to 100 

High = over 100 

Where a light source with Ra>60 is used, the lighting level can be reduced by 1 class 

except 2 lux should not be reduced further. 

Ra 

value 

Low 60 

Med 60 

High 60 

Low traffic flow 

with pedestrians 

and cyclists 

Set 7 - illuminance Design Objective 

Typically:- City & Town Centre Shopping Streets 

Pedestrian / traffic flow Medium 

Environmental Zone E3 E4 

Pedestrian Only 

Mixed on separate 

surface 

Mixed on shared 

surface 

Major shopping centre, sports & 

major multi purpose building complex 

Small town shops, Department store 

office building, small sports complex 

Village shops, schools, churches, 

terraced and apartment houses 

Eav 

Uo 

Eav 

Uo 

Eav 

Uo 

High 

E3 E4 

15 20 20 30 

0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 

20 30 30 30 

0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 

20 30 30 30 

0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 


Typical Network:- Car Parks & Motorway Rest Area 

Zone Eav Uo GRL 

20 0.25 50 

See BSEN12464-2:2007 for other external work task illuminance 


Typical Network:- Local Access Roads & roads serving limited number of properties 

Urban Residential Loop Roads 

LIGHTING DESIGN ROADMAP - Devised and Designed by 

LCADS Ltd, Moffat : Tel 01683 220 299 

Values in RED italics are additional CEN values to BSEN 5489 Recommendations 

Normal traffic flow 


and cyclists 

10 

5 

0.25 

0.25 

50 

50 

Normal traffic flow 


and cyclists 

E1/E2 E3/E4 E1/E2 E3/E4 E1/E2 E3/E4 

Eav Emin Eav Emin Eav Emin Eav Emin Eav Emin Eav Emin 

3 0.6 5 1 5 1 7.5 1.5 7.5 1.5 10 3 

2 0.6 3 0.6 3 0.6 5 1 5 1 7.5 1.5 

5 1 7.5 1.5 7.5 1.5 10 3 

15 5 

3 0.6 5 1 5 1 7.5 1.5 

10 3 

10 3 10 3 10 3 15 5 

15 5 

7.5 1.5 7.5 1.5 7.5 1.5 10 3 

10 3 

LCADS Ltd 

(C) 2008 




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3.3 Non-photometric Recipe method for domestic exterior lighting 

Since most domestic residential exterior lighting units are not photometrically 

measured the installation planning does require a design methodology better than a 

global 1000 lumen limit as indicated in earlier sections. 

As described previously a lamp output limit of 1000 lumens in luminaires with poor 

light control is considered to be a generalised rule of thumb marker. However Table 

3.4 provides a more accurate lumen and wattage prescription, which is based on the 

overall area of the building structures on each residential plot of land. 

Appendix D contains simple advice on installation techniques and Appendix E 

contains examples of exterior lighting equipment which should be considered when 

purchasing new exterior lighting. The Authority intend to make this information 

available to all the residents within the park boundary. 

Lamp lumens is a consistent value and although difficult to find on some packaging 

may in the future supersede the lamp wattage. Lamp watts can vary with the efficacy 

of the lamp. Table 3.4 has therefore been constructed using the lamp lumens as the 

base from which to start followed by tables which show the equivalent lamp wattages 

for different lamp types. 

Table 3.4 - Total Lumen Limit for each residence 

Total Lumens 

for domestic 

Exterior Lighting 

Fully cut-off 

luminaires 

each lamp lumen 

maximum 

Part cut-off 

luminaires 


maximum 

No light control 

luminaires 


maximum 

E0 

Core 

750 lm 

plus 

4.5 lm / m 2 

of site 

structures* 

Environmental Zone 

E1 E2 E3*** E4*** 

Buffer 

750 lm 2250 lm 4500 lm 6000 lm 

plus plus plus plus 

4.5 lm / m 2 4.5 lm / m 2 4.5 lm / m 2 4.5 lm / m 2 

of site of site of site of site 

structures* structures* structures* structures* 

1000 lm 1200 lm 1650 lm 2400 lm 3200 lm 

X 750 lm 1200 lm 1650 lm 2400 lm 

X 480 lm** 750 lm 750 lm 750 lm 

*** Environmental zones E2 - E4 do not relate to any conditions in or near 

Brecon Beacons and should be excluded from any considerations for domestic 

lighting. 

They are shown here as an example for others to follow in External Zones. 

* Site structures is the sum of the land area of residential buildings, habitable 

structures, garages, recreational buildings and storage structures on each property 

plot. 




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From table 3.4 a total site structure in the Buffer Zone (E1) with say 255 m 2 would 

provide for a total of 1,897 lumens which can be distributed as 1 or more luminaires 

up to the total allowance. (see Appendix E for list of lower lumen and wattage lamps) 

Table 3.5 - Lamp watts for each luminaire with Compact Fluorescent 

E0 

Core 

E1 

Buffer 


E2 E3*** E4*** 

Fully cut-off luminaires 

each lamp watts maximum 11w 20 watts 24 watts 32 watts 42 watts 

Part cut off luminaires 

each lamp watts maximum X 11 watts 20 watts 24 watts 32 watts 

No light control luminaires 

each lamp watts maximum X 9 watts** 12 watts** 12 watts 12 watts 

** The maximum watts or lumens for each lamp in this section relates to replacing 

lamps in existing lighting units only. No new luminaires with little or no light control 

should be considered, especially in environmental zones E1 and E2. 

Table 3.6 - Lamp watts for each luminaire with Tungsten Halogen 

E0 

Core 

E1 

Buffer 


E2 E3*** E4*** 


each lamp watts maximum 50w 60 watts 100 watts 150 watts 200 watts 


each lamp watts maximum X N/A 60 watts 100 watts 150 watts 


each lamp watts maximum X N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Table 3.7 - Lamp watts for each luminaire with Incandescent / Candle / Capsule 

Lamp 

E0 

Core 

E1 

Buffer 


E2 E3*** E4*** 


each lamp watts maximum 

2 x 35 watt 

halostar 

2x60 watt 

Capsule 

See 3.4 See 3.4 


each lamp watts maximum X 60 watts See 3.4 See 3.4 See 3.4 


each lamp watts maximum X 40w 

candle 

40w 

candle 

40w 

candle 

40w 

candle 




Version 03 

Table 3.8 - Lumen and Watts exception for Ceramic / Metal Halide discharge 

lamps 

E0 

Core 

E1 

Buffer 


E2 E3*** E4*** 


each lamp lumen maximum 

each lamp watts maximum 

X 

1500 lm 

20w 

2400 lm 

35w 

5500 lm 

70w 

5500 lm 

70w 

Part or No light control luminaires are not allowed with this light source 

Floodlights in the domestic budget range DIY equipment 

usually take the form of a simple area floodlight with a 

high wattage tungsten halogen lamp. They are popular 

because they are cheap, easy to install, and are often 

combined with photo-electric (PECU) switches to prevent 

daytime operation and with passive infra red (PIR) 

detectors to switch on and off automatically during the 

hours of darkness. 

In the majority of cases these fittings, or luminaires, are 

installed typically on garage or porch fascias at about 2-3 

metres above ground level, and arranged to direct their 

main beams, sometimes elevated 90 degrees towards the property boundary to 

operate as vehicles or people enter. This high beam arrangement often results in 

glare to road users and light intrusion into adjacent property windows. 

This type of installation is not in keeping with the light control required in a rural 

setting and as from the effective date of implementation of this LMP no new 

floodlights of this type will meet the Dark Sky Reserve requirements. However, 

floodlights with a horizontal flat glass or the fully cut-off examples shown in Table 3.9 

will provide the degree of light control expected. 




Version 03 

Table 3.9 – Light Control Examples 

Fully Cut-off Examples Partly Cut-off Examples No light Control Examples 

Konst Smide Torino range 

7326-750 black or 7325-000 silver 

IP 44 

100w halogen = 1650 lm 



no new units 

Zumtobel Bega 2489 18w PLC 

Solar power LED 

no new units 

IP 65 

ERCO Parscoop 

42w fluorescent = 3200 lm 

70w metal halide = 5000 lm 

Acceptable substitute for 300 or 500 

watt tungsten halogen replacement 

limit to 40 watt candle 

or 9 watt compact 

fluorescent 

18 watts = 1200 lm and too 

large for Dark Sky application 




Version 03 

4 Permitted and Non-Permitted Lighting Installations 

4.1 Typical permitted applications 

Typical, but not limited to the following, lighting applications which will require 

planning consent: 

Sports facilities with column or structure mounted luminaires less than 15 

metres in height. 

Temporary Construction site lighting. 

Club Car Parks. 

Bridges, churches, public monuments and buildings. 

Town located lit advertising signs 

To obtain lighting consent, planning applicants shall demonstrate that the proposed 

lighting installation:- 

 

 

 

 

(a) Contains an analysis of the 20 point Good Design Practice Checklist 

produced by the Scottish Executive (see also Section 2.3) 

(b) A statement that shows every reasonable effort to mitigate Sky Glow and 

Light Intrusion has been addressed and accompanied by a computer 

calculation indicating average task illuminance, uniformity, horizontal values 

of overspill beyond the property line and vertical illuminance values of light 

intrusion on adjacent properties. 

(c) Employs lighting controls to reduce the quantity of lighting at the project 

specific ‘Curfew’ time which has been established in the Planning Permission. 

(d) Complies with all light limitation factors outlined in this LMP. 

4.2 Non-Permitted Lighting Applications 

The following applications will not be permitted in any area falling inside the boundary 

of the National Park: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerial Laser Shows 

Sky Tracking Searchlights 

High intensity light sources greater than 200,000 lumens 

Luminaires mounted higher than 15 metres on column or structure 

Sports complexes requiring an average playing surface greater than 75 lux. 

Theme and amusement parks. 

Rural located lit advertising signs. 




Version 03 

5 Existing Lighting 

5.1 General 

All existing lighting units within the Buffer Zone, which utilise lamps greater than 1000 

lumens, should be brought into line with the light limitation recommendations in this 

LMP as units require replacing. 

All existing street lighting in the External Zone shall remain as installed until the 

luminaires require to be replaced. As local authority improvement budgets permit, 

each street will be equipped with new luminaires, and bracket arms where 

necessary, to meet the light intensity limitation at 90 0 and above as recommended in 

this LMP. 

Change of property size 

If a major addition occurs on a property, or street, lighting for the entire property, or 

street, shall comply with the recommendations in this LMP. The following are 

considered major additions: 

 

 

An addition of 50% or more in terms of residential houses, gross floor area, 

seating capacity, parking space or street length. 

Single or cumulative additions, modifications or replacement of 50% or more 

of installed exterior lighting luminaires. 

Change of Property Ownership 

If a property, with non-conforming lighting, changes ownership or usage the new 

owners will be encouraged to appraise which units could be replaced with compliant 

luminaires. If the existing exterior lighting is no longer required all non-conforming 

lighting should be removed and the new owners will be encouraged to help update 

the inventory record by submitting an advisory note on the number of luminaires 

amended or removed. 

Guide to Table 5.2 – 5.5 “Compliant” column 

In the following tables the last column contains 2 grades of compliant luminaires 

namely:- 

(1) those with lamps less than 1000 lumens (shown as 1 or more in clear cells) 

equating to just less than 1% of the total inventory but are not causing concern 

and 

(2) those with lamps greater than 1000 lumens (shown as 0 in red cells) in the table. 

As previously indicated priority should be given to modifying the over 1000 lumen 

units, in the red cells, since they equate to just over 22% of the total inventory. 

Cells with 1 or greater mean that these luminaires are fully compliant with IDA guidelines 

and are not at issue. 




Version 03 

5.2 Core Zone - Exterior Lighting Audit 

Table 5.2 Total Number of lighting units = 112 Total Compliant = 75 = 67% 

Ref Type of fitting Qty. Building Type Elevation 

No. 

Angle 

Adaptable Wattage Duty 

Cycle 

Application 

Fully 

Shielded 

Qty. 

Compliant 

2.19 bulkhead 1 house 0 no 60 switch porch yes 1 

2.19 recessed wall 7 wall 90 no 8 pecu access no 7 

2.19 floodlight 2 house 45 yes 150 pir garden no 0 

2.19 downlights 2 garage 0 no 100 switch yard yes 2 

2.34 bulkhead 3 shed 90 no 60 switch yard no 3 

2.34 bulkhead 1 shed 90 no 8 switch yard no 1 

2.34 floodlight 1 reception 45 yes 300 pir yard no 0 

2.34 bulkhead 3 reception 90 no 60 pir porch yes 3 

2.34 bulkhead 1 reception 90 no 60 switch door no 1 

2.34 heritage 2 reception 90 no 8 switch door no 2 

2.34 floodlight 1 link 45 yes 500 pir path no 0 

2.34 floodlight 1 link 20 yes 70 switch path no 0 

2.34 bulkhead 1 link 90 no 8 switch path no 1 

2.34 floodlight 5 student house 20 yes 70 switch path no 0 

2.34 floodlight 1 outhouse 90 yes 36 pir yard no 0 

5.38 Wellglass 1 house 90 no 60 sw security no 1 

5.38 flood 4 house 45 yes 500 sw path no 0 

5.39 Wellglass 1 house 90 no 13w pir path no 1 

5.39 floodlight 2 house 45 yes 500 pir security no 0 






Version 03 

5.39 bulkhead 2 extension 90 no 13w switch security no 2 

5.39 bulkhead 3 extension 90 no 13w pir security no 3 

5.39 floodlight 3 extension 45 yes 150 pir security no 0 

5.39 floodlight 1 shed 90 yes 150 pir security no 0 

5.40 heritage 2 house 90 no 13w sw door no 2 

5.40 heritage 2 house 90 no 13w sw security no 2 

5.40 heritage 7 wall 90 no 13w sw garden no 7 

12.53 wellglass 2 house 90 no 60 switch path no 2 

12.53 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 60 switch path no 1 

15.04 wellglass 3 house 90 no 60 switch access no 3 

15.04 wellglass 1 barn 90 no 60 switch yard no 1 

15.05 heritage 1 house 90 no 60 switch access no 1 

15.05 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 60 switch door no 1 

15.05 floodlight 4 poles 45 yes 150 pir garden no 0 

15.06 bulkhead 1 porch 90 no 40 switch door no 1 

15.07 heritage 1 porch 90 no 40 pir door no 1 


15.07 floodlight 1 house 45 yes 70 switch yard no 0 

15.07 floodlight 1 pole 45 yes 70 switch menage no 0 

15.07 floodlight 1 stable 45 yes 70 switch yard no 0 


15.08 floodlight 1 workshop 60 yes 70 switch yard no 0 

15.08 floodlight 1 porch 90 yes 150 pir drive no 0 

15.08 bulkhead 1 porch 90 no 11 pir access no 1 

15.08 floodlight 1 house 45 yes 300 pir seating no 0 

15.08 floodlight 2 pole 45 yes 120 pir path no 0 

15.09 heritage 1 house 90 no 8 switch path no 1 


15.09 floodlight 1 house 90 yes 150 pir access no 0 


15.10 solar 11 garden 90 no 3 battery access no 11 




Version 03 

15.11 no lights 

15.12 wellglass 2 house 90 no 60 pir door no 2 

15.12 bulkhead 2 sheds 90 no 60 pir yard no 2 


15.14 heritage 1 house 90 no 40 switch door no 1 

15.40 wellglass 1 house 90 no 40 switch door no 1 

112 Core Zone Total 75 

Core Zone Compliant 67% 

halogen floodlights on pir total = 23 or 20% of core zone survey 




Version 03 

5.3 Critical Buffer Zone - Domestic / Farm / B&B - Exterior Lighting Audit 



No. 

Angle 


Cycle 

Application 

Fully 

Shielded 

Qty. 

Compliant 

1.01 Bulkhead 2 Barn 90 n 60 switch security n 2 

1.01 Bulkhead 1 2D Fl switch security n 1 

1.01 Heritage 2 house 90 n 60 switch yard n 2 

1.01 Wellglass 1 shed 90 n 60 switch security n 1 

1.02 

1.03 wellglass 1 house 90 no 60 switch Porch no 1 


1.05 0 house 

1.06 0 


1.07 floodlight 1 outhouse 80 yes 500 switch security no 0 

1.08 0 

1.09 Modern 2 house 0 no switch door y 2 

1.09 floodlight 1 house 45 no 300 switch yard no 0 

1.09 Bulkhead 1 house 90 no 60 switch door no 1 

1.09 Bulkhead 1 house 90 no 8 switch door no 1 


1.10 floodlight 1 garage 80 yes 500 pir yard no 0 




Version 03 

1.11 heritage 1 house 90 no 25 switch Porch no 1 

1.11 Bulkhead 1 shed 90 no 60 switch path no 1 

1.12 


1.13 heritage 3 house 90 no 60 switch garden no 3 

1.13 heritage 2 garage 90 no 60 pir yard no 2 

1.14 0 


1.15 floodlight 1 0 no 150 switch yard y 1 

1.15 wellglass 3 90 no 60 switch garden no 3 

1.16 Bulkhead 1 House 0 no 13 switch door no 1 

1.16 heritage 3 90 no 13 switch path no 3 

1.16 heritage 3 wall 90 no 60 switch yard no 3 

1.16 floodlight 1 Garage 80 yes 500 pir yard no 0 

1.16 heritage 2 house 90 no 13 pir path no 2 

1.16 wellglass 1 90 no 13 switch yard no 1 

1.17 wellglass 2 House 90 no 60 switch garden n 1 

1.17 floodlight 1 barn 90 no 60 switch security y 0 

1.17 Bulkhead 1 barn 70 yes 60 switch security n 1 

1.17 Solar 3 garden 90 no 5 pir garden n 3 

1.18 wellglass 1 House 90 no 60 switch Porch n 1 

1.18 wellglass 1 barn 90 no 60 switch yard n 1 

1.19 heritage 1 House 90 no 60 switch door n 1 

1.19 heritage 1 gate 90 no 60 switch gate n 1 

1.19 wellglass 1 shed 90 no 60 switch security n 1 

1.20 floodlight 1 House 80 yes 300 pir garden n 0 

1.20 floodlight 1 60 yes 300 pir garden n 0 

1.21 heritage 3 House 90 no 60 switch secutity no 3 

1.22 wellglass 1 House 90 no 60 switch Porch no 1 

1.22 floodlight 1 House 90 yes 500 pir yard no 0 




Version 03 

1.22 floodlight 3 barn 90 yes 500 pir yard n 0 

1.22 floodlight 1 shed 80 yes 500 pir yard n 0 

1.23.1 floodlight 1 House 70 yes 150 pir door no 0 

1.23.1 floodlight 1 House 70 yes 150 pir yard no 0 

1.23.2 floodlight 1 House 0 yes 500 switch door y 1 

1.23.2 floodlight 1 90 yes 500 switch yard no 0 

1.23.3 wellglass 1 barn 90 no 60 switch yard no 1 

1.24 floodlight 1 barn 90 yes 150 switch yard no 0 

1.24 heritage 1 House 80 no 60 switch garden no 1 

1.24 Solar 2 gate 90 no 2 pir gate no 2 

1.25 wellglass 5 house 90 no 25 switch security no 5 

1.26 none 0 house 

1.27 

1.27.1 heritage 5 house 90 no 25 switch path no 5 

1.27.1 floodlight 1 house 60 yes 500 pir security no 0 

1.28 wellglass 1 house 90 no 25 switch Porch no 1 



2.00 


2.01 floodlight 1 house 70 yes 500 switch security no 0 

2.01 wellglass 1 garage 90 no 60 pir security no 1 

2.02 wellglass 3 house 90 no 60 pir foot no 3 

2.02 heritage 3 pole 90 no 100 switch steps no 3 

2.03 wellglass 1 house 90 no 60 switch foot no 1 

2.03 wellglass 1 shed 90 no 100 switch security no 1 

2.03 floodlight 1 shed 60 yes 80 switch yard no 0 

2.03 floodlight 1 shed 45 yes 500 switch yard no 0 

2.04.1 heritage 2 house 90 no 60 pir foot no 2 

2.04.1 heritage 1 porch 90 no 60 pir door no 1 




Version 03 

2.04.2 heritage 1 house 90 no 60 switch door no 1 

2.04.2 wellglass 1 house 90 no 60 switch yard no 1 

2.05 heritage 1 porch 90 no 60 switch door no 1 



2.06 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 60 switch yard no 1 

2.06 wellglass 1 house 90 no 60 switch yard no 1 

2.07.1 wellglass 1 house 90 no 60 switch yard no 1 

2.07.2 louvered tube 7 house 90 no 60 pir foot part 7 

2.09 heritage 1 house 90 no 60 switch foot no 1 

2.09 floodlight 1 house 70 yes 500 switch bridge no 0 

2.10.1 no lights 

2.10.2 heritage 1 house 90 no 60 switch foot no 1 

2.10.3 heritage 1 house 90 no 60 pir foot no 1 

2.11 bulkhead 1 chapel 90 no 100 switch door no 1 



2.12 floodlight 1 garage 45 yes 500 switch security no 0 


2.13 bulkhead 2 barn 90 no 11 switch security no 2 

2.13 floodlight 1 barn 45 yes 300 switch security no 0 

2.14 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 8 switch access no 1 






2.20 bulkhead 2 workshop 90 no 60 switch yard no 2 

2.20 floodlight 2 barn 45 yes 300 pir yard no 0 





Version 03 


2.22 bulkhead 2 workshop 90 no 11 switch access no 2 

2.22 wellglass 1 piggery 90 no 8 switch door no 1 

2.22 floodlight 2 now disconnected 2 


2.24 survey request refused 


2.25 wellglass 1 house 90 no 60 pir yard no 1 


2.25 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 60 pir yard no 1 


2.25 floodlight 1 stable 20 yes 150 pir door no 0 

2.26 wellglass 2 house 90 no 60 switch door yes 2 

2.26 floodlight 1 house 20 yes 150 pir yard yes 1 



2.27 floodlight 1 garage 90 yes 150 pir drive no 0 

2.27.2 bulkhead 1 garage 90 no 60 switch access no 1 

2.27.2 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 60 switch access door 1 

2.27.2 heritage 1 house 90 no 60 switch access no 1 

2.27.3 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 60 switch door no 1 


2.28 heritage 6 house 90 no 11 pir yard no 6 


2.28 floodlight 3 house 45 yes 36 pir yard no 0 

2.28 floodlight 1 workshop 45 yes 150 pir drive no 0 

2.28 solar 6 garden 90 no 3 pecu decorative no 6 

2.29 not surveyed 

2.30 heritage 2 gate post 90 no 40 switch security no 2 

2.30 floodlight 2 post 70 yes security no 0 




Version 03 


2.32 bulkhead 1 house 0 no 100 switch porch yes 1 

2.32 floodlight 1 house 60 yes 500 pir yard part 0 

2.33 floodlight 3 house 20 yes 500 pir steps part 0 

2.33 floodlight 2 house 20 yes 150 pir garden no 0 

2.33 

round 

bulkhead 6 house 90 no 2D switch path no 0 

2.33 long bulkhead 6 house 90 no 8 switch path no 6 

8.00 

8.01 bulkhead 1 bell housing 90 no 60 switch door no 1 

8.02 floodlight 1 porch 45 yes 300 pir door no 0 

8.03 floodlight 1 garage 90 yes 150 pir approach no 0 


8.04 Welsh Water - not surveyed 

8.05 floodlight 1 house 90 yes 120 pir door no 0 



8.06 closed - not surveyed 

8.07.2 no lights 

8.08 not found 

8.09 heritage 4 fence/house 90 no 8 switch door no 4 


8.10.1 bulkhead 1 porch 90 no 18 switch door no 1 


8.10.2 floodlight 1 house 0 yes 150 pir access yes 1 


8.14 not found 


8.15 floodlight 1 house 60 yes 150 pir drive no 0 





Version 03 

8.15 solar 7 house 90 no 3 battery garden no 7 



8.15 wellglass 1 outhouse 90 no 40 pir yard no 1 

8.15 wellglass 1 toilet block 90 no 60 pecu path no 1 

8.15 bulkhead 1 toilet block 90 no 60 pecu path no 1 

8.15 wellglass 1 stable 90 no 60 switch yard no 1 

8.15 floodlight 1 stable 70 yes 500 pir yard no 0 

8.15 floodlight 1 barn 70 yes 300 pir drive no 0 



8.16 floodlight 1 workshops 0 yes 150 switch yard yes 1 



8.17 floodlight 2 workshops 45 yes 300 pir security no 0 

8.17 floodlight 3 pole 90 yes 300 pir security no 0 

4.00 

4.01 heritage 6 post 90 no 60 switch path no 6 




4.01 heritage 1 outhouse 90 no 60 switch path no 1 






4.04 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 13 pir door no 1 

4.04 contemporary 1 house 90 no 13 pir door no 1 





Version 03 

4.06 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 60 pir door no 1 


4.06 floodlight 1 house 0 yes 150 pir access yes 1 


4.07 contemporary 1 house 45 no 60 switch door no 1 



4.08 bulkhead 1 gate 90 no 60 switch drive no 1 


4.08 bulkhead 1 90 no 60 switch access no 1 

4.09 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 60 pir access no 1 



5.00 

5.01 to survey 

5.02 Floodlight 1 barn 60 yes 150 son switch security no 0 

5.02 bulkhead 1 barn 90 no 60 switch security no 1 

5.03 Floodlight 3 house 90 yes 500 switch security no 0 

5.03 Wellglass 1 90 no 60 switch path no 1 

5.03 Heritage 1 post 90 no 60 switch yard no 1 

5.03 bulkhead 2 wall 90 no 60 switch yard no 2 

5.03 Floodlight 1 garage 90 yes 500 switch yard no 0 

5.04 to survey 


5.05.2 heritage 5 house 90 no 40 switch foot no 5 

5.05.3 heritage 3 barn 90 no 40 switch foot no 3 

5.05.3 floodlight 2 barn 20 yes 500 pir security no 0 

5.06 bulkhead 3 house 90 no 60 pir foot no 3 

5.07 





Version 03 

5.08 decorative 1 house 90 no 60 switch foot no 1 


5.09 

5.10 decorative 1 house 90 no 40 switch path no 1 

5.11 no lighting 


5.12 floodlight 1 garage 70 yes 500 pir security no 0 


5.14.1 pendant 1 house 90 no 60 switch door no 1 

5.14.2 wellglass 2 house 90 no 60 switch path no 2 

5.14.2 opal globe 1 post 90 no 100 switch bridge no 0 

5.14.2 bulkhead 1 garage 90 no 60 pir drive no 1 

5.14.3 no lighting 

5.15 wellglass 2 chapel 90 no 100 switch path no 2 

5.15 bulkhead 1 chapel 90 no 60 switch door no 1 





5.20 street light 3 pole 0 no 70 PECU road no 0 

5.21 street light 3 pole 0 no 55 disconnected yes 3 




5.25 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 60 switch security no 1 




5.27 floodlight 2 garage 70 no 150 pir security no 0 

5.28 pendant 1 porch 0 no 11 switch door yes 1 

5.29 




Version 03 


5.30 wellglass 1 house 90 no 60 sw yard no 1 

5.30 floodlight 2 barn 90 yes 150 pir yard n0 0 



5.31.2 heritage 5 wall 90 no 60 switch path no 5 

5.31.2 heritage 3 post 90 no 60 switch path no 3 

5.31.2 floodlight 1 house 60 yes 300 switch yard no 0 

5.32 bulkhead 1 house 0 yes 60 pir porch no 1 


5.32 floodlight 1 garage 90 no 500 switch garden no 0 

5.33 

5.34 heritage 5 house 90 no 60 pir garden no 5 

5.35 flood 1 house 90 yes 500 pir garden no 0 

5.36 eyelid 1 building 90 no 42w fl sw yard no 0 

5.37 

12.00 



12.01 solar 8 garden 90 no 3 battery path no 8 

12.02 bulkhead 1 porch 0 no 60 switch door yes 1 

12.02 floodlight 4 house 45 yes 70 switch path no 0 

12.02 floodlight 1 house disconnected 1 

12.02 bulkhead 1 garage 90 no 60 pir access no 1 




12.03 floodlight 1 garage 45 yes 70 pecu lane no 0 

12.03 floodlight 1 house 45 yes 150 pir lane no 0 

12.03.2 under construction 

12.03.3 poor access - not surveyed 




Version 03 

long drive - not 

12.04 surveyed 

12.05 heritage 4 rear wall 90 no 25 switch path yes 4 




12.07 floodlight 1 house 20 yes 150 pir path yes 1 

12.08 padlocked gate - not surveyed 


12.10.1 floodlight 1 garage 45 yes 150 pir drive no 0 


12.10.3 floodlight 2 house 90 yes 300 pir yard no 0 



12.11 wallwash 1 house 0 yes switch signlight yes 1 

12.11 contemporary 1 house 90 no 60 switch door part 1 

12.12 floodlight 5 post 80 yes 150 switch menage no 0 

12.12 sphere 2 post 90 no 8 switch path no 2 












12.19 heritage 3 pole 90 no 60 switch garden no 3 




Version 03 


12.20 floodlight 1 house 45 yes 300 switch rear yard no 0 

12.23 padlocked gate - not surveyed 



12.25 privacy request - not surveyed 

12.26 floodlight 1 post 45 yes 70 switch architecture part 1 

12.26 floodlight 2 eaves 45 no 36 switch car park no 0 

12.26 floodlight 1 post 45 yes 70 switch car park no 0 

12.26 floodlight 1 post 50 yes 300 pir car park no 0 

12.27 floodlight 5 house 0 yes 150 pir path yes 5 


12.27 plaza 2 stable 90 no 70 switch yard no 0 

12.27 heritage 2 outhouse 90 no 60 switch access no 2 



12.28 heritage 1 porch 90 no 20 switch access no 1 

12.28 floodlight 1 house 45 yes 300 switch garden no 0 



12.30 floodlight 1 house 45 yes 300 pir lane part 1 





12.35 

long drive - not 

surveyed 







Version 03 

12.39 downlight 3 canopy 0 no 11 pir door yes 3 

12.39 floodlight 3 disconnected recently - source of annoyance to neighbours 3 


12.40 floodlight 1 house 70 yes 70 switch drive no 0 

12.40 floodlight 1 shed 300 yes 300 pir drive no 0 



12.41 floodlight 1 porch 80 yes 300 switch access no 0 

12.43 

12.46 heritage 1 pole 90 no 60 switch yard no 1 

wellglass 1 house 90 no 60 switch path no 1 

heritage 1 house 90 no 60 switch door no 1 

12.47 poor access - not surveyed 

12.48 poor access - not surveyed 

12.49 heritage 4 house 90 no 40 switch patio no 4 



12.49 heritage 2 gatepost 90 no 40 switch access no 2 

12.49 floodlight 1 garage 45 yes 150 pir access no 0 

12.50 

12.50 


12.51 floodlight 1 post 90 yes 150 pir access no 0 

12.52 survey request refused 

15.00 


15.01 floodlight 1 barn disconnected 1 

15.01 wellglass 1 barn disconnected 1 

15.02 bad access - not surveyed 





Version 03 

15.03 floodlight 1 sheds 45 yes 150 pir yard no 0 


16.00 

16.01 wellglass 1 porch 90 no 60 switch door no 1 

16.01 floodlight 1 disconnected 1 


16.02 floodlight 1 house 90 yes 150 pir gate no 0 

16.02 solar 2 house 90 no 3 battery door no 2 

16.03 wellglass 2 house 90 no 60 pir access no 2 

16.04 floodlight 2 house 45 yes 120 pir door no 0 

16.04 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 2D 18 switch path no 1 

16.04 spotlight 2 house 80 yes par 150 pir path no 0 

16.05 bulkhead 1 house 90 no 70 pecu courtyard part 1 

16.05 floodlight 1 link 45 disconnected 1 

16.05 wellglass 1 office 90 no 60 switch courtyard part 1 

16.05 bulkhead 2 porch 90 no 2D 18 switch door no 0 


16.06 heritage 1 gatepost 90 no 40 pir entry no 1 

16.06 heritage 1 garage 90 no 8 switch access no 1 

16.06 heritage 1 porch 90 no 8 pir door no 1 

16.06 solar 4 garden 90 no 3 battery garden yes 4 

halogen floodlights on pir total = 83 or 15% of domestic survey 

555 Critical Buffer domestic survey total Total Compliant 402 




Version 03 

5.4 Domestic - Exterior Lighting Audit in "Control" Village 



No. 

Angle 


Cycle 

Application 

Fully 

Shielded 

Qty. 

Compliant 

17.00 Section 17 Rural control village in park remote from core zone activity - no street lighting system 



17.01 heritage 4 gateway 90 no 60 switch entry no 4 

17.02 wellglass 1 porch 90 no 60 switch door no 1 



17.04 floodlight 1 pole 45 yes 300 switch yard no 0 





17.08 heritage 2 house 90 no 60 pir door no 2 



17.09 floodlight 1 garage 0 no 150 pir drive yes 1 


17.09 floodlight 1 house 0 no 150 switch drive yes 1 

17.10 contemporary 3 house 90 no 2x35 switch access no 3 





Version 03 

17.12 heritage 4 ground 90 no 8 switch drive no 4 

17.12 heritage 1 porch 90 no 60 switch door part 1 

17.12 heritage 1 side 90 no 60 switch drive no 1 

17.12 heritage 3 rear 90 no 8 switch path no 3 








17.16 bulkhead 1 eaves 0 no 60 switch path no 1 


17.17 floodlight 1 garage 45 yes 150 pir access no 0 









17.24 bulkhead 3 eaves 0 no 60 switch access yes 3 

17.25 bulkhead 2 eaves 0 no 60 switch access no 2 



17.27 floodlight 1 house 45 yes 150 pir access no 0 


17.28 floodlight 2 house 70 yes 300 switch drive no 0 





Version 03 

5.5 Commercial - Exterior Lighting Audit 



No. 

Angle 


Cycle 

Application 

Fully 

Shielded 

Qty. 

Compliant 

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN CRITICAL BUFFER ZONE 

2.08 bulkhead 2 pillar 90 no 60 switch gateway no 2 

2.08 square bulkhead 9 centre 90 no 13 switch foot no 9 

2.08 long bulkhead 7 centre 90 no 8 switch foot no 7 

2.08 bulkhead 3 canopy 0 no 13 switch foot no 3 

2.08 bulkhead 5 canopy 0 no 8 switch foot yes 5 

8.11 eyelid bulkhead 8 information 90 no pecu path no 0 

8.11 bulkhead 2 porch 90 no 8 pecu exit no 2 

8.11 contemporary 2 information 90 no no 0 

8.11 downlight 2 porch 20 yes door yes 2 

8.11 bollard 17 link yard 90 no yard part 17 

8.11 downlight 6 shelter 0 yes 5 pecu path yes 6 

8.11 eyelid bulkhead 15 L shape 90 no pecu path no 0 

8.11 downlight 2 porch 0 yes 5 pecu door yes 2 

8.11 downlight 5 canopy 0 no pecu tables yes 5 

8.11 bollard 6 path 90 no pecu approach no 0 

8.11 bi-symmetric 9 poles 90 yes 150 24h car park no 0 

8.13 post top 23 pole 0 no 55 road no 0 

8.13 refractor 11 pole 0 no 55 roof top no 0 




Version 03 

8.13 floodlight 6 workshops 50 yes 400 3x24h yard no 0 

8.07 downlight 2 porch 0 no 10 24h door yes 2 

8.07 bulkhead 6 inn 90 no 8 switch assembly no 6 

8.07 floodlight 6 inn 45 yes 70 switch wallwash part 3 

8.07 floodlight 2 inn 0 yes 70 switch wallwash yes 2 

8.07 floodlight 2 inn 90 yes 300 pir security no 0 

8.07 floodlight 4 ground 90 yes 70 switch wallwash no 0 

8.07 floodlight 2 extension 70 yes 1,500 switch pattio no 0 

8.07 heritage 2 gatepost 90 no 8 switch feature no 2 

8.07 floodlight 3 pole 70 yes 70 switch car park no 0 

8.07 floodlight 2 ground 100 yes 150 switch sign no 0 

12.42 bulkhead 1 pub 90 no 60 switch path no 1 

12.42 floodlight 5 pub 0 yes 70 switch wallwash no 0 

12.42 floodlight 1 pub 90 yes 500 switch source of glare to road 0 

12.42 floodlight 1 toilet 50 yes 500 switch lane no 0 

12.42 floodlight 1 toilet 100 yes 150 switch sign no 0 

12.13 heritage 33 wall top 90 no 8 pecu decoration no 33 

12.13 heritage 6 post 90 no 11 pecu garden yes 6 

12.13 bulkhead 2 outhouse 90 no 60 switch path no 2 

12.13 sphere 2 gatepost 90 no 8 switch gate no 2 

12.13 floodlight 4 wall 90 yes 250 pecu architecture yes 4 

12.13 floodlight 4 pole 45 yes 150 switch menage no 0 

12.16 bulkhead 2 toilet 90 no pecu access no 2 

12.16 bulkhead 4 canopy 0 no 28 switch path yes 4 

12.16 bulkhead 3 centre 90 no 8 switch path no 3 

12.16 spotlight 4 centre 45 yes 150 pir path no 0 

12.16 wellglass 1 centre 90 no 60 switch path no 1 

12.16 downlight 5 centre 5 no 6 switch path no 5 

12.16 bollard 3 post 90 no switch path no 0 

12.21 heritage 6 post 90 no 60 switch path no 6 




Version 03 

12.21 bulkhead 1 tickets 90 no 8 switch path no 1 

12.21 heritage 3 wall bracket 90 no 20 switch path no 3 

12.21 bulkhead 1 coffee shop 90 no 2D 18 pecu path no 0 

12.21 plaza 2 coffee shop 90 no 70 pecu path no 0 

12.21 bulkhead 17 eaves 0 no 2D 18 pecu flat doors no 0 

12.21 floodlight 1 flats 45 yes 300 pir ramp no 0 

12.21 plaza 1 flats 90 no 70 pecu path no 0 

12.21 floodlight 3 house 90 yes 300 pir path no 0 

12.22 lit - but never used according to owner 0 

12.53 all night lighting a source of annoyance to residents - needs advance warning of survey 0 

288 

Commercial total 

surveyed Commercial Compliant 148 

Commercial property compliant 51% 

5.6 Summary Totals for all Exterior "Non Public" Lighting 

Preceeding 

Sections 

Area 

Lighting 

units 

IDA 

Compliant 

Percentage 

Compliant 

5.1 Core Zone 112 75 67% 20% 

Non-compliant on 

presence detection 

sensor 

5.2 Critical Buffer 

Domestic 

5.3 Control Village 

Domestic 

5.4 Critical Buffer 

Commercial 

555 402 72% 15% 

69 55 80% 

228 149 51% 

Survey Total 964 681 70% 




Version 03 

5.7 Public Lighting Audit 

Table 5.7 Listing of all towns and villages with more than 3 street lighting 

units 

Village / Town < 5 miles from 

Core Miles total 

Flat 

Glass 

Low 

profile 

Trecastle 2.50 Powys 22 19 3 

Crai 1.00 Powys 7 0 0 

Sennybridge 3.50 Powys 77 70 0 

Defynnog 3.00 Powys 32 0 0 

Heop Senn 0.50 Powys 4 0 0 

Libanus 1.00 Powys 14 0 0 

Llanspyddid 2.00 Powys 18 10 3 

Brecon 2.00 Powys 976 227 0 

Llanfrynach 1.00 Powys 23 0 23 

Groesffordd 2.50 Powys 15 4 0 

Pencelli 1.00 Powys 4 1 0 

Pennorth 1.50 Powys 4 4 0 

Llangors 3.50 Powys 36 2 3 

Talybont on Usk 1.00 Powys 56 1 30 

Bwlch 3.00 Powys 27 26 1 

Llangynidr 1.50 Powys 72 2 28 

Pontsticill 0.25 Merthyr 48 0 0 

Llwyn-onn Village 0.25 Merthyr 4 0 0 

Penderyn 0.50 Rhondda 125 0 0 

Ystradfellte 0.50 Powys 6 2 0 

Pen-y-cae 0.25 Powys 11 9 2 

Glyntawe 0.25 Powys 12 0 0 

Twynmynydd 1.00 Carmarthenshire 5 0 0 

Dre-fach 1.00 Carmarthenshire 5 0 0 

Trapp 1.50 Carmarthenshire 13 0 0 

Chapel Gwynfe 1.50 Carmarthenshire 6 0 0 

Twynillanan 1.50 Carmarthenshire 5 0 0 

Llanddeusant 0.75 Carmarthenshire 1 0 0 

Myddfai 1.00 Carmarthenshire 11 0 0 

Village / Town > 5 miles from Core 0 

Trefecca 6.00 Powys 8 0 0 

Talgarth 7.00 Powys 151 13 0 

Felindre 10.00 Powys 18 0 0 

Llanigon 13.00 Powys 31 3 0 

Hay on Wye 14.00 Powys 191 50 10 

Cwmdu 6.00 Powys 34 24 0 

Tretower 6.00 Powys 15 10 0 

Crickhowell 6.00 Powys 287 40 3 

Llangattock 6.00 Powys 100 7 0 




Version 03 

Llangenny 7.00 Powys 5 0 0 

Glangrwyney 7.00 Powys 37 1 24 

Gilwern 8.00 Monmouthshire 279 12 23 

Llanelly Hill 5.50 Monmouthshire 67 0 0 

Clydach 7.00 Monmouthshire 48 0 0 

Govilon 9.00 Monmouthshire 50 20 0 

A465 - Highways Agency 319 314 0 

TOTALS 3279 871 153 

27% Flat Glass lantern 

1,024 31% 

Flat glass or low 

profile 

The analysis above reflects the current situation which is the result of appreciation of the 

light pollution issues by several Local Authorities within Brecon Beacons National Park over 

a period of several years. 

To improve matters still further we will continue to work with the local Councils to encourage 

the continuance of as many lighting improvements as possible within their budget 

constraints. 




Version 03 

5.8 Luminaire Profiles 

Common to the town of Brecon 

with typical intensity distribution of light emerging near the horizontal axis 

Typical 35 or 55w SOX 

Refractor bowl 

35w luminaire elevated 5 0 

I max Cd/klm 

Above 95 43 

Above 90 62 

90 0 62 

80 0 115 

70 0 163 

Typical 70w / 100w SON – 

Polycarbonate Bowl 

Refractor Bowl 

55w luminaire elevated 5 0 

I max Cd/klm 

Above 95 30 

Above 90 70 

90 0 70 

80 0 294 

70 0 304 

luminaire elevated 10 0 

I max Cd/kl 

m 

Above 95 3 

Above 90 13 

90 0 13 

80 0 58 

70 0 219 

Typical 50w/70w SON – luminaire elevated 0 0 

I max Cd/klm 

Low profile = G3 @ 0 0 Above 95 3 

Above 90 7 

90 0 7 

80 0 88 

70 0 291 

Typical 


I max Cd/kl 

Flat Glass retrofit for all of 

m 

above 

Above 95 0 

24 / 32 LED =G6 @ 0 Above 90 0 

0 90 0 0 

80 0 85 

70 0 771 

 

 

Stela 

Typical Curved LED 

On test in some streets 

Preferred mounting 


I max Cd/klm 

Above 95 4 

Above 90 4 

90 0 4 

80 0 8 

70 0 783 




Version 03 

“Public” Lighting Inventory 

Luminaire Profiles 


Sugg Windsor = G2 

Mix of 50w and 70w SON 

I max Cd/klm 

Above 95 0 

Above 90 25 

90 0 25 

80 0 44 

70 0 316 

Clear Pear Drop Glass 

I max Cd/klm 

Above 95 

Above 90 

90 0 

80 0 

70 0 Aldi Car Park 

Lighting 

Fully Cut-off and 

rear shielded 

where adjacent 

to houses 

 

 

P567 

Typical 100w SON – 

Flat Glass 


I max Cd/klm 

Above 95 0 

Above 90 0.7 

90 0 0.7 

80 0 49 

70 0 323 

 




Version 03 

5.9 “Public” Lighting Inventory - Detail Synopsis 

Lamp wattage distribution for Brecon 

Town / Village Name 

: Brecon 

Location (relative to Core) : North 

Distance from Core Zone 

: 2 miles 

Population : 

Local Authority Street Lighting 

Lamp Type Watts Quantity Duty Cycle Bowl Type I 90 

LED 18# 50 Part night curve 

LED 18# 26 dusk-dawn curve 

LED 24# 20 part night flat glass 0 

LED 24# 12 dusk-dawn flat glass 0 

SON 50 24 part night shallow 

SON 50 12 dusk-dawn shallow 

SON 70 193 part night mixed 

SON 70 148 dusk-dawn mixed 

SON 100 58 part night mixed mainly 0 

SON 100 72 dusk-dawn mixed mainly 0 

SON 150 49 part night flat glass 0 

SON 150 72 dusk-dawn flat glass 0 

SON 250 17 part night flat glass 

SON 250 39 dusk-dawn flat glass 

SOX 55 126 part night refractor 

SOX 55 69 dusk-dawn refractor 

SOX 90 11 dusk-dawn refractor 

mixed mixed 424 Switched off – non operational 

Other Exterior Lighting in Brecon (eg sports, school, community) 

Location : Parc de Pugh playing fields - 

Application # 08/01880/FUL 

Fixture Elevation Lamp/Watts Duty Cycle Application Compliance 

Fully Cut-off 

Floodlights 

0 MBI 2Kw 

8x14m 

9.00 pm 

curfew 

Sports Field 

1 and 2 

yes 

Bi-symmetric 

Floodlights 

masts 

70-90 MBI 2Kw 

3x12m 

masts 

Training 

Field 3 

Location : Christ College - Application # P18275 - 2002 


Fully Cut-off 

Sill 

Planstrahler 

0 MBI 2Kw 

12m mast 

All Weather 

sports pitch 

378 lux 

No - for 

reason see 

below 

Location : Dering Lines Military Camp - Prohibited access - no data available 

Fixture Elevation Lamp / Watts Duty Cycle Application Compliance 

floodlights security no 

Street lights LPS no 

no 




Version 03 

Location : Dering Lines - Prohibited access - Application #07/00733/FUL 


Seimens/Siteco 

(Christie Ltg.) 

55 to 69 

degrees 

2Kw 

8x15m masts 

350 lux 

sports pitch 

no 

Location : Leisure Centre - Penlan Sports Track Application # K10912- 1989 


Bi-Symetric 50-60 Athletics 

Track 

no 

Location : Leisure Centre - Application # P188200 - 2000 


Circular 50-60 1.5Kw 9.30pm Sports Pitch no 

Symmetric 

(MUSCO) 

8x15m 

masts 

curfew 

Original planning application using flat glass option by Philips not used - Exposed 

location at the top of a hill 

Location : Brecon Football Club Application # 


Bi-Symmetric 55 to 65 

degrees 

2x2Kw 

8x12m masts 

football 

pitch 

no 




Version 03 

5.10 Other Exterior Lighting in remainder of National Park (eg sports, school, 

community) 


: Hay on Wye 

Location (relative to Core) : North East 


: 14 miles 

: 

Location : Pharos Sports Field 



Fully Cut-off 

Abacus 

AL5760 

65+ MBI 2Kw 

6x15m masts 

22.00 hours 

curfew 

Sports Field Not to 

surrounding 

houses 


: Talgarth 

Location (relative to Core) : North East 


: 7 miles 

: 

Location : Trefechan Playing Fields Application # P17217 - 2000 


Fully Cut-off 

Abacus 

AL5760 

0 MBI 2Kw 

8xm masts 

3 per mast 

Rugby Club yes 


: Crickhowell 

Location (relative to Core) : South East 


: 6 miles 

: 

Location : Beaufort Street Application # P17821 - 2001 


Shoe Box 

(RLS) 

Tennis 

Court 

5 MBI 2Kw 

9x6.7m (27ft.) 

column 

No 

but partshielded 

from core 


: Pontsticill 

Location (relative to Core) : South 


: 0.25 miles 

: 

Location : Water Treatment Works Application # 


Street lights 

& 

Floodlights 

Various Mixed Probably 

Dusk / 

Dawn 

yard No 




Version 03 


: Llandeilo 

Location (relative to Core) : West 


: 3 miles 

: 

Location : Bethlehem Road 



Musco MBI 1.5Kw School 

6x18m masts 

playing 

Field 

Musco design on application but not the same floodlights as Brecon 

look horizontal fully cut-off in Google Earth - like Abacus 


: Sennybridge 

Location (relative to Core) : North 


: 3.5 miles 

: 

Location : Military Camp - Prohibited access - no data available 


floodlights security no 

Street lights LPS no 

Duty Cycle Options:- Dusk/Dawn 

Half Night = Midnight or 1am Off 

Part Night = On for Evening and Morning, Off between 

Dimmed = On for Evening and Morning, Dimmed between 

Presence Detection 




Version 03 

6 Summary of Plan Statements 


Within the Core Zone boundary it is propose to maintain a policy of no 

additional permanent illumination installations. 

(see Section 2.1) 


Residents in the Core Zone are to be encouraged to limit the overspill light at 

their property boundary, or within 10 meters of the main residence, to no more 

than 0.05 lux and all existing lighting units to be replaced, through time, by 

“fully cut-off” examples regardless of the lumen output. 

Note: This is a more stringent condition than the IDA requirement but has been 

adopted by the Brecon Beacons National Park as an aspirational target. 



The Authority will encourage that no lighting will be allowed to be projected 

from the adjacent light permitted buffer zones into the Core Zone and any 

overspill lighting from lights in the Critical Buffer Zone to be no greater than 

0.05 lux (horizontal) at ground level or 0.05 lux vertical at 1 metre (or higher) 

above ground on the Core Zone side of the property boundary. 

(see Section 2.3.1) 


Luminaires in the Critical Buffer Zones using lamps greater than 1000 lumens 

will be recommended to be installed as a Fully Cut-Off (IDA term “fully 

shielded”). 



Residents of Brecon Beacons National Park are to be encouraged to limit the 

overspill light at their property boundary to no more than 0.1 lux. 

(Residents within the Core Zone have stricter recommendations see Statement 2) 





Version 03 


In Environmental Zone terms the residents round the Core Zone live with and 

enjoy intrinsic darkness equivalent to Environmental Zone E1. Towns within 

the Brecon Beacons boundary with a population greater than 900 may relax 

the conditions of this Environmental Zone in the town centre where buildings 

provide natural screening but not in exposed locations. 



All new lighting within the Brecon Beacons will be encouraged to be designed 

and installed to provide lower glare or intensity values, where possible, than 

that recommended by the Institute of Lighting Professionals (LP) for night time 

Environmental Zones. 



All design submissions for new lighting in the Brecon Beacons should show 

evidence of compliance with the zero candela intensity at 90 0 and above and 

encourage domestic luminaires to be selected from units having some form of 

upward light control. 



Through the Lighting Management Plan it will be possible for the Authority to 

provide a basis for discussion with its neighbours on various options to help 

reduce upward light transmission. 



All residential and business occupiers in the Brecon Beacons will be 

encouraged to switch off or reduce their exterior lighting quantity at 22.00 

hours. 





Version 03 

Lighting Management Plan – Appendicies A-F 




Version 03 

Appendix A – Definitions 

Unit/Term 

lumen 

candela 

illuminance 

luminance 

A unit of light (luminous flux) emitted from a point source of one 

candela intensity, sometimes expressed in kilolumens - (klm) 

A unit of luminous intensity 

The quantity of luminous flux incident upon a unit area, 

expressed as lumens per square metre or lux 

The luminous intensity (or brightness) of a surface or source 

expressed in terms of surface area i.e. candelas per square metre (cd/m 2 ) 

To convert dark sky ‘brightness’ to luminance 

Use the formula: 

[value in cd/m 2 ] = 10.8×10 4 (-0.4*[value in mag/arcsec2]) 

× 10 

reflectance 

The reflection factor (or index) of a surface or material 

inter-reflection The result of various reflections 

efficacy 

wattage 

luminaire 

projector 

skylight 

moonlight 

sky glow 

aura 

In lighting terms - the value of light obtained per unit of electrical 

energy input i.e. lumens per watt 

The nominal load rating of a lamp (excludes any allowances for associated 

operating gear losses usually taken as averaging10% of the nominal wattage 

value(lower for electronic control gear)) 

The total package of lantern, lamp and all associated integral 

items of operating control and switch gear 

A special luminaire designed to provide a concentrated pattern 

of light 

The variable brightness value of daytime sky caused by sunlight 

scattered by particles of dust and vapour in the earth’s atmosphere 

(skylight can reach values in excess of 2,000 candelas per square metre) 

The luminous flux emitted by the moon received at the earth’s surface at an 

average value of between 0.3 and 0.5 lux (a rural surface under moonlight 

conditions will have an average brightness of about 0.002 candelas per 

square metre i.e. 1/500 cd/m 2 ) 

The variable brightness value of night-time sky caused by upward 

components of light from direct and inter-reflected light off the earth’s surface 

(the brightness of sky glow is dependent on the amount of upward light and 

the presence and density of atmospheric particles and their distance above 

ground level) 

The hemisphere of light rising up from ground level encircling a light source 

or lighting array caused by low level mist and fog particles 




Version 03 

Disability glare This is glare from a lamp or luminaire which prevents a visual task from being 

carried out by obscuring ones vision. It is sometimes associated with visual 

pain. 

Cartesian diagram 

IES, TM14, & Elumdat 

Are different electronic formats of luminaire intensity distribution. They are 

not a meaningful representation in hard copy printed format, like a Cartesian 

or polar diagram, however, as numeric data input for a computer algorithm 

they represent a 3-dimentional array. Some computer algorithms recognise 

all three different formats whilst other algorithms only recognise one format. 

Light intrusion Is light entering or illuminating windows beyond the intended area requiring 

illumination. Sometimes referred to incorrectly as ‘light trespass’ since the 

word ‘trespass’ has different legal implications in the UK. 

Average luminance 

Or average illuminance 

Are all based on a maintained average which means the lowest average 

value to which the installation will fall before lamp replacing and luminaire 

cleaning takes place as part of a maintenance regime cycle. 

Colour appearance 

The colour appearance of a light source can be defined objectively in terms 

of the temperature, in degrees Kelvin, to which a thermal radiator (e.g. a 

black body) would have to be heated to have the same colour appearance as 

that of the light source being assessed. A GLS filament lamp (light bulb) has 

a colour temperature of c.2700° Kelvin (usually written as 2700K). 

The “Correlated Colour Temperature” (CCT) ** provides guidance of the 

colour appearance of lamps whether or not their chromaticity point 

(from the x & y values) is on the black body locus. 

The CIE categories of “Warm”, “Intermediate” and “Cold” relate to CCTs as follows: 

Below 3300K - WARM 

3300K to 5300K - INTERMEDIATE 

Above 5300K - COLD 

** 

BS 5489 and BSEN 12665:2002 use the abbreviation of Tcp to replace CCT 




Version 03 

Light source Spectral Power and Colour Temperature Analysis 

Low pressure sodium (SOX) 

Colour Temperature CCT = 1800K 

Colour rendering index Ra = minus 40 

No radiation below 500nm 

nm = wavelength in nanometers 

High pressure mercury with fluorescent 

coating to convert UV radiation into 

visible light. (MBF/U) 

CCT = 3300K, Ra = 52 (Comfort 

version) 

More than 50% radiation below 500nm 

Some MBF/U still exists in some 

National Parks 

High pressure sodium (SON/T plus) 

CCT = 2000 0 K, Ra = 22 to 25 

25% radiation below 500nm 

but no radiation in UV range 

“White SON” CCT = 2500K, Ra = 83 

Metal halide warm white 

CCT= 3300K, Ra = 52 

Less than 25% radiation below 500nm 

Metal halide cool white 

CCT= 4000K, Ra = 65 

About 50% radiation below 500nm 




Version 03 

CDM-T warm white CCT = 3000K, Ra = 85 


CDM-T cool white CCT = 4200K, Ra = 

96 


Low pressure mercury (compact 

fluorescent) (CFL) 

Wide range of colour effects in triphosphor 

- Warm white, cool white, north 

light and many others 

LED 

Provisional display of early spectral 

power measurements 

300 500 800 

About 25% radiation below 500nm. 

3 colour temperatures available 

3200K, 4500K and 6000K 

(avoid using 6,000K in residential area) 




Version 03 

Appendix B – Sky Brightness Nomogram (by kind permission of Heck Spoelstra) 




Version 03 

APPENDIX C 

Luminaire Profile Examples for Environmental Zone E1 


post top (as illustration) is 

elevated 10 0 and noncompliant 

for E1@ 90 0 and 

above 

Requires side entry bracket 

with horizontal spigot for 0 0 

elevation 

G4 optic (warning also G2 

version) 

G6 and G4 optics 

Flat Glass 

Philips - Mini 

Iridium 

45w Cosmopolis 

also 

16 x Light Emitting 

Diodes W/White 

Narrow Beam 

At 5 0 tilt output = G5 

At 10 0 tilt output = G4 

Light Emitting Diodes 

Flat Glass 

Ruud / CU Phosco 

Ledway Road 

30 x LED’s @ 3000 0 K 

or 

50 x LED’s @ 4000 0 K 

Caution 

6000 0 K also available 


Flat Glass 

Urbis 

Remus 

16, 24, 32 or 48 LED’s 

3500 0 K or 4250 0 K 

Caution 

6000 0 K also available 


Flat Glass 

Urbis 

Piano 1 

16, 24, 32 or 48 LED’s 

3500 0 , 4250 0 or 6000 0 K 


I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 0 

90 0 0 

80 0 10 

70 0 246 

45w = G6 compliant 

16 LED’s = G6 except I 90 


I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 0 

90 0 0 

80 0 71 

70 0 287 


I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 0 

90 0 0 

80 0 89 

70 0 447 


I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 0 

90 0 0 

80 0 14 

70 0 95 




Version 03 

SILL Lighting 

453 CityLiter 

26w Pll and 35w CDM 

Thorn Lighting 

Plazora Wall Light 

26w TC-D fluorescent 


I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 0 

90 0 0 

80 0 8 

70 0 84 

I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 0 

90 0 0 

80 0 8 

70 0 50 

 

 

Zumtobel Bega 2489 

Triangular Bulkhead 

18w PLC 3000 0 K 

Sugg Lighting 

Probe 

Louvered Bollard 

70w SON(E) 

(white paint on louvers 

reflects upward light) 

CU Phosco Lighting 

P436 Black Louvered 

Bollard 

42w Compact 

Fluorescent 

I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 1 

Above 90 0 7 

90 0 7 

80 0 22 

70 0 35 

I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 0 

90 0 0 

80 0 7 

70 0 20 

 




Version 03 

Urbis Isla 

35watt CDM 

or 42watt CFL 

G6 optic (warning G2 

optic also available) 

I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 0 

90 0 0 

80 0 31 

70 0 274 

 




Version 03 

The following examples do not fully comply with zero intensity at and above the horizontal 

but have been selected from many others as being the closest to “Fully Shielded” conditions 

and need to be located near other natural shields like buildings or trees. 

JW Ltd Gloucester 

G1/96 Philips Fortino optic 

45w LED unit 

Vertical lamps and 

refractors are not compliant 

with G6 or E1 objectives. 

I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 0.3 

90 0 0.3 

80 0 33 

70 0 93 

Sugg Rochester and 

Tunbridge 

50watt SON/T = G4 

compliant with cgp stb optic 

80w MBF/U = G5 compliant 

with cgp stb optic 

I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 8 

90 0 8 

80 0 78 

70 0 480 

U h = 0.0 

U l = 0.2 total ULOR = 2% 

Sugg Lighting 

Large Grosvenor 

50w SON/T 

Optic and lamp located in 

lantern top section to act as 

“fully shielded” but as in all 

heritage equipment the 

glass refracts some light 

upwards 

Urbis St. Giles 

50watt SON/T 

G3 compliant with SGS 

Clear P/1200/095/-38.5/ 

911381 

I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 17 

90 0 17 

80 0 83 

70 0 206 

I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 10 

Above 90 0 7.7 

90 0 7.7 

80 0 23 

70 0 148 




Version 03 

OrangeTEC 

TerraLED 

24, 36, 40 and 60 LED units 

I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 0 

Above 90 0 2 

90 0 17 

80 0 83 

70 0 206 


Concave Glass 

Urbis 

Carlo 1 

28 or 42 LED’s 

35000K 


I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 1.3 

Above 90 0 1.5 

90 0 1.5 

80 0 200 

70 0 573 

DW Windsor 

Garda 

LED Hand Rail 

I max Cd/ 

klm 

Above 95 0 4 

Above 90 0 10 

90 0 10 

80 0 66 

70 0 165 

Emergency Exit Lighting 

Unit 

Raylux 25 

Currently undergoing 

photometric tests to prove 

zero intensity at and above 

horizontal 

8 x LED’s and complete 

with wall mounting bracket 

Unit to be mounted pointing 

down for G6 compliance 




Version 03 




Version 03 

APPENDIX D 

Domestic Lighting 

Equipment Profiles 

Through this leaflet we hope to provide you 

with examples of well designed equipment 

which you may wish to consider when 

purchasing new lighting units. The leaflet also 

contains examples of poor design relative to 

the exacting demands of light control within 

Dark Sky Reserve of National Park. 

Unless otherwise noted the equipment 

illustrated is available from local DIY Stores. 

Poor – Lamp reflector and PIR detector point 

in same elevation and rotational direction. 300 

/ 500 watts Tungsten Halogen lamps provide 

too much light for use in rural settings. 

Good – (above and below) 70w or 150w metal 

halide lamp. Must be installed with glass 

window horizontal – and not as illustrated. 

When the lamp is located at the bottom of the 

reflector the main beam will emerge from the 

glass window at about 45 degrees. Known 

technically as a double asymmetric light 

distribution. 

Good – Reflector shaped to direct light down. 

Boxed as dark sky friendly and has PIR sensor 

separate from the lamp unit pointing. For rural 

setting look for unit with a 150 watt lamp or 

less. Also provides reduced illumination dusk 

to dawn for courtesy and full power on 

presence detection. 

Good – Can direct light in 2 directions and 

lamps are less than 100 watts. Limit elevation 

angle to less than 45 degrees. Various other 

similar styles with integral PIR detector on 

mounting. 60w capsule with dimming for 

courtesy or LED lamps 




Version 03 

APPENDIX D 

The output of lamps will shortly be valued in 

lumens rather than watts as at present. The 

table below provides interim user guidance 

when comparing lamp watts and lumens. 

Very Good – (SILL 453 CityLiter) Designed to 

be mounted horizontally and available in a 

range of low wattage lamps. Luminaire has 

IDA Dark Sky Friendly Fixture Award. 

Fluorescent range + 35/70w metal halide 

Poor – No light 

control 

Poor – No light 

control 

Fair – Upward light 

limited but lamp must 

be less than 480 lm. 

Good – Porch light 

with downward light 

Lamp type & Watts 

Lamp 

Lumens 

(lm) 

Clear Bulb GLS 75w 940 

Candle Lamp clear 60w 660 

Candle Lamp opal 60w 640 

Superlux Krypton 75w 1,000 

Halogen energy saver 52w 840 

Halogen linear 60w 840 

12v Tungsten Halogen 50w 925 

T2 linear fluorescent 13w 940 

T8 linear fluorescent 15w 950 

Compact Fluorescent 

Elegance globe 15w 799 

Elegance candle 9w 405 

Elegance spiral 11w 580 

2D compact fluorescent 10w 650 

3 loop compact fluor’t 13w 900 

1 loop compact fluor’t 11w 900 

LED Opal globe 7w 230 

In order to protect the dark night sky over the 

National Park it is proposed to limit the lamp 

output on existing poor or no light-controlled 

luminaires to 480 lumens. 

Poor – Low wattage light source but projects 

light upwards when mounted as shown and 

needs to be near horizontal to limit sky glow. 

(Bracket does not allow horizontal fixing) 

18 watt PL-C = 1200 lm 

Poor – Bollard with 

no light control and 

produces glare 

Good – External 

louvers limit upward 

light and reduces 

glare. Lamp must be 

less than 1000 lm 

See Lighting Management Plan Section 2 for 

other restrictions. 




V 03 APPENDIX E – Domestic Lamp Wattage and Lumen Output 

Illustration Lamp Lamp Nominal Output 

Name Type Watts Lumens 

Standard, clear bulb Incandescent GLS 15W 90 

25W 220 

40W 420 

60W 710 

100W 1,330 

Standard, pearl frosted bulb Incandescent GLS 15W 90 

25W 220 

40W 415 

60W 700 

75W 935 

Candle, clear bulb Incandescent 25W 200 

Tungsten 40W 400 

60W 660 

Candle, opal bulb Incandescent 25W 190 


60W 640 

Twisted Candle, clear bulb Incandescent 15W 90 


40W 400 

60W 660 

Twisted Candle, opal bulb Incandescent 15W 90 


40W 400 

60W 660 

GE Candle Lamp (B&Q) Incandescent 18W 170 


45W 710 





Round, clear bulb Incandescent 25W 200 


60W 660 

Round, opal bulb Incandescent 25W 200 


60W 660 

Superlux Krypton mushroom, opal Incandescent 25W 240 

Standard Tungsten 40W 455 

60W 760 

75W 1,000 

Superlux Krypton mushroom, opal Incandescent 25W 160 

Any burning position Tungsten 40W 300 

60W 530 

Halolux halogen energy saver Incandescent 18W 170 

Tungsten Halogen 30W 415 

42W 630 

45W 710 

52W 840 

Haloline linear Incandescent 60W 840 

Tungsten Halogen 100W 1,900 

120W 2,250 

130W 2,440 

230W 4,650 

Halostar 12V Incandescent G4-10W 100 

G9-25 = 255 Tungsten Halogen 14W 215 

G9-30 = 415 20W 240 

G9-18 = 170 G4-25W 470 

G9-45 = 710 





LED Parathom clear globe Solid State 1.6W 70 

Light Emitting Diode 2W 100 

3W 165 

Master LED opal globe Solid State 7.5W 470 

Light Emitting Diode 12w 650 

Master LED reflector Solid State 4W 110 

Light Emitting Diode 7W 230 

Lumilux T2 tubular Discharge 6W 330 

Linear Fluorescent 8W 540 

11W 750 

13W 940 

Energy Saver - short T5 tubular Discharge 4W 130 


8W 385 

13W 830 

Lumilux T8 tubular Discharge 10W 650 


Biax Extra Mini Discharge 9W 480 

Compact Fluorescent 11W 600 

15W 900 





Elegance Globe Discharge 7W 286 


11W 610 

15W 830 

20w 1,152 

Elegance Candle Discharge 5W 200 


9W 405 

Elegance Spiral Discharge 8W 460 


15W 845 

20W 1,230 

23W 1,450 

2D Discharge 16/14 1,100 

Compact Fluorescent 21/19 1,350 

38/34 3,020 

Biax S Discharge 5W 250 


9W 600 

11W 900 

Biax S/E Discharge 5W 265 


9W 600 

11W 900 

Biax D Discharge 10W 600 


13w 900 

Biax T Discharge 13W 900 


18W 1,200 

42W 3,200 




V03 

PROPERTY SELF-AUDIT 

APPENDIX F 

The Next Steps for the Improvement of the Night Sky in the BBNP 

Of particular interest in the lighting audit was the high percentage of security style floodlights, 

many of them with the glass almost vertical. The dark sky over Brecon Beacons would 

benefit greatly if more “security” style floodlights were tilted down, preferably horizontal. To 

this end, and to aid more general improvements to light fittings, the draft guidelines below 

will be evolved and distributed as widely as possible within the BBNP to encourage and 

assist residents, businesses and organisations to take part in the anti light pollution 

campaign. 

Property Self-Audit Guidelines – How to improve your external lighting for the betterment of 

the environment and to save money in the long term. 

Are you ready to help improve the excellent dark night time conditions in the National Park 

If so survey your property externally (all buildings and any free-standing lighting eg. on poles 

in exercise yards or ménage areas) 

Tungsten Halogen Floodlights 

X X 

Preferred Step 

Replace with new fitting having good light control & meeting the Lighting Management Plan 

requirements 

or Option 1 

Tilt down until glass is horizontal and thereby meeting the requirements of a “fully 

shielded” luminaire. 

Reduce lamp size if possible (500watts – 300watts or 150watts – 100watts). 

or Option 2 

Tilt down as far as fitting allows (integral sensor units sometimes limits the downward 

angle). 

Fabricate shielding from aluminium or similar material and fix securely in place. 

Ensure that shielding as fixed, allows no light at or above the horizontal axis. 

Reduce lamp size if possible. 

Remember:- 

SWITCH OFF - AFTER YOUR WORK IS FINISHED 

NO TASK – NO LIGHTING 

Lighting Consultancy And Design Services Ltd Page -103- 



V03 


For all other fittings which are not “fully shielded” or “fully cut-off”, 

implement changes or upgrades as follows:- 

1) No or very minimal Light Control 

Preferred 

Measure the building footprint and replace with new fitting(s) having good light control, 

preferably “fully cut-off” like the examples on the following page and thereby meeting the 

Lighting Management Plan (LMP) requirements. 

Do not exceed the total lumen limit in the table below for your size of property. 

Total Lumens 

for domestic Exterior Lighting 

Core 

750 lm 

plus 

4.5 lm / m 2 

of site 

structures* 


E1 

E2 

Buffer Lit streets 

2250 lm 

plus 

4.5 lm / m 2 

of site 

structures* 

750 lm 

plus 

4.5 lm / m 2 

of site 

structures* 


each lamp lumen maximum 1000 lm 1200 lm 1650 lm 


each lamp lumen maximum X 750 lm 1200 lm 


each lamp lumen maximum X 480 lm** 750 lm 

Table - Total lumen limit and individual lamp lumen limit per property 

E3*** 

E4*** 

* Site structures is the sum of the land area of residential buildings, habitable structures, 

garages, recreational buildings and storage structures on each property plot. 

*** Environmental zones E3 and E4 exist but do not relate to any conditions in Brecon 

Beacons National Park. 

A full list of domestic lamp types, their wattage and their lumen outputs are shown in 

the previous appendix as reference data. However, lamp manufacturers are 

continually improving lamp efficiency and some lamp lumen outputs may change 

through time. 




V03 


Fully cut-off example Fully cut-off example Fully cut-off example 

Only part shielded so limit 

lamp size as per table 3.1 





or Option 1 

Shield to fully comply with LMP requirements. 

Fabricate shielding from aluminium or similar material and fix securely in place. 

Ensure shielding as fixed, allows no light at or above the horizontal axis. 

or Option 2 

If high power lamp, replace lamp with one having less than 1000 lumen output (see 

tables in Appendix). 

Consider shielding as well. 




V03 


2) Partly Cut-off Fittings 

Preferred 

Adjust tilt angle down to meet LMP requirements. 

or Option 1 

Tilt down if adjustable and 

Provide additional shielding to comply with LMP requirements. 

Fabricate shielding or cowl from aluminium or similar material and fix securely in 

place. 

Ensure that shielding / cowl as fixed, allows no light at or above the horizontal axis. 

or Option 2 

Replace with new fitting having improved light control & meeting LMP requirements 

or Option 3 

If high power lamp, replace lamp with one having less than 1000 lumen output (see 

tables in Appendix) 

Consider tilt reduction as well, if possible. 

Consider shielding as well. 

For all external lighting:- 

 

 

 

Check switching times are sensible / comply with curfew as appropriate. 

PIR detectors are properly aimed to avoid nuisance switching. 

Consider installing a push button switch with short time delay facility. 




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Supplementary Design Guidance 

Lighting Management Plan – Appendix G 




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Appendix G 

Draft Dark Sky Reserve 

Planning Application Guidance Note 

for all New or Refurbished Exterior Lighting Installations 

This Appendix is designed to provide a common rationale when submitting planning 

applications containing external lighting within a Day Sky designated area. It contains a dual 

methodology for both the appraisal of any lighting impact caused by the application and the 

way the lighting design should be approached. Additionally it contains some of the expected 

lighting design performance indicators which will be used to gauge the submission 

compliance with the strict light control required as part of the Dark Sky award scheme. 

The aim of this Appendix is to outline good practice in lighting design in addition to providing 

practical guidance on producing an impact assessment of the lighting associated with a new 

development. It provides the basis for the production of Authority specific format documents 

for use in their own business processes. 

Since light can stray over geographical or administrative boundaries this appendix relies on 

planners and engineers working in partnership, both within the Dark Sky designated area 

and externally in the surrounding local authorities, to help maintain or enhance the dark sky 

conditions. 

There is a national problem from the effects of stray light creating, in some situations, a form 

of nuisance or obtrusion. Part of the problem emanates from the random standards of some 

planning applications containing external lighting proposals. 

For many years describing and characterising both rural and urban environments has been a 

function of Landscape Architecture. Originally, there was little consistency in style or scope 

of coverage. With the recognition that all types of development have a variety of impacts on 

the environment which should be identified and assessed, finding a format or methodology 

which provides a consistent approach to such work became essential within the UK, the EU 

and beyond following the introduction of EU directive 85/337/EEC, amended in 1997 by 

directive 97/11/EC. 

The scope of assessment for planning purposes now includes ecological and other elements 

and has moved beyond that of landscape alone. Within that area however, there is a specific 

requirement for assessing existing and future lighting effects. This should now form an 

essential element for planning applications within a designated Dark Sky award area. 

Even outside the statutory requirements, planning officers should be requesting greater 

detail with applications, when they include external lighting proposals. The previous lack of a 

published lighting design & assessment methodology has resulted in planning applications, 

being presented in a variety of formats, sometimes with a few extracts from manufacturers’ 

catalogues and non-location associated calculation techniques. This can create major 

difficulties in appraising the application both subjectively and technically. 

The following pages contain an assembly of extracts from 3 or 4 different publications to 

create a global methodology for planning applications containing the proposal to install 

external lighting. 




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Lighting Impact Assessment Methodology 

In order to assist in consistency of a Lighting Impact Assessment report a new publication 

from the ILP will be published in 2012 and it focuses on the lighting aspects of such 

development applications and includes design and assessment methodology. Whilst most 

of these are effects on people and their perception of the surroundings, which also includes 

upward sky glow effect, assessments must also include effects on flora and fauna. 

All parts of an Environmental Impact Assessment are reported in a particular order which is 

outlined as follows:- 

Site description 

Method of assessment 

Baseline assessment 

Proposed development 

Residual effects 

Brief summary of Visual Impact Assessment with 

description adapted for lighting context and with 

discussion on Environmental Zone(s). 

(E0 and E1limit for Dark Sky Designated Awards) 

Outline of the methodology for site visits, evaluation, 

design etc. (more detail in ILP Section 8) 

What lighting is in and around the area prior to any 

development. (more detail in ILP Section 9) 

The lighting design(s) and proposals, including the task 

requirements and limits set by factors such as 

Environmental Zone etc. (more detail in ILP Section 10) 

Assessment of the changes which may be caused by 

the lighting, including both the 

Construction & Operational Phase 

(more detail in ILP Section 11) 

Potential Mitigation 

Conclusions 

Again this should cover the 

Construction & Operational Phase 


(including identification of any aspects / areas where 

there is a lack of information at the time of the report.) 


Appendices 

Reference to the complete contents of the ILP document is essential but some indexed parts 

are included here to show the scope and methodology which should be followed for all new 

or refurbishment work which includes the installation of external lighting. 




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Baseline Descriptions 

Lighting Impact Assessment – Checklist 

Baseline Assessment Procedures 

Day time visit 

Night time visit 

Viewpoint Scheduling 

Baseline Assessment Layout 

Location Plan 

Brief Description 

Viewpoint Pages 

Baseline Summary 

Proposed Development – Lighting Design 

Design – General 

Preliminary Assessment 

Provisional Design 

Final Design 

Maintenance Factors 

Lighting Design Methodology 

In addition to the ILP rationale covering the process of carrying out Lighting Impact 

Assessments the Scottish Executive have published a complementary Planning Guidance 

Note (Controlling Light Pollution and Reducing Energy Consumption) which provides a 

rationale to all lighting design proposals. 

Again reference to the full document will provide energy saving advantages in providing a 

robust design, however, this LMP should encourage Development Control Committees, both 

within the Authority and adjacent Local Authorities, to insist on a thorough design process by 

the developer’s lighting engineer before submitting proposals. Although only 12 points are 

included in the LMP these should be treated as an absolute minimum requirement for small 

projects and there are no reasons why the full 20 point plan is not set as a standard 

requirement. The 20 point plan and the reasoning, with lighting performance indicators 

expected in a Dark Sky area, are included here for the completeness of this Appendix. 




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Good Design Practice – 20 Point Checklist 

1 Statement of client needs and interested parties’ comments 

2 Survey of surrounding area night environment 

3 Identification of critical viewpoints 

4 Establishment and calculation of existing lighting conditions 

5 Establishment of environmental light control limits 

6 Summary of baseline measurements and/or calculations 

7 Analysis of task lighting level recommendations 

8 Statement of new lighting design quality objectives 

9 Outline of iterative lighting design methodology 

10 Horizontal Calculation of Task working area(s) 

Overspill area(s) 

11 Obtrusive light calculation of Viewed source intensities 

Direct upward light ratio 

Nominal glare assessment 

Building luminance 

Combined upward illuminance grid 

12 Compare design achievement with baseline values 

13 Designer’s critique of final design constraints 

14 Viewpoint Visualisation 

15 Virtual walkthrough of illuminated site 

16 Schedule of model reflection factors 

17 Schedule of luminaire types, mounting height and aiming angles 

18 Schedule of energy usage and distribution 

19 Schedule of luminaire profiles 

20 Layout plan with beam orientation indication 

The last page is detachable and can be included with the planning application for the 

developer / designer to show all the sections which have been calculated or prepared in the 

Lighting Impact Assessment and the following is the methodology of the design process. 

1. Statement of Interested Parties’ Comments 

Not all clients of lighting designers have a clear outline of lighting requirements and 

sometimes the original objectives of a scheme are explained in very open terms. A 

short formal statement should not include technical details but could include possible 

alternatives, described in non-technical terms. Likewise external parties may raise 

concern or early objections to a new development created by a perceived vision, 

based on pictures or personal knowledge of examples of poor lighting control in 

adjacent developments. Special interest groups may also require to be included. 

The collection of interested parties’ comments is a way of providing background 

material, which acts as an early approach to carrying out a lighting risk assessment. 

The outcome of this risk assessment can be explained in the lighting design 

methodology as each objection, or restriction, is technically assessed. 




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2. Site Survey (essential) 

Lighting design proposals are often incorrectly, for various reasons, carried out without 

visiting the development site. Even with a site survey it is not always possible, the first 

time round, to identify all the potential lighting problems, however, to ignore the 

surrounds, by not visiting the site, does not provide good and thorough design 

methodology. More importantly failure to carry out a site survey can create a serious 

deficiency in risk management terms. The site survey should be the starting point for a 

Baseline Study from which various visual and technical elements can be identified. 

Where there are any existing lighting units close to the new development the 

magnitude of the existing lighting effect requires to be measured, or calculated, 

especially with respect to obtrusive light control, or lack of it. Light is additive and any 

overspill from the new development will amplify existing levels. (see later in point 4) 

3. Critical Viewpoints (essential) 

Most new developments today are overlooked to some extent by residential property, 

and some may be assessed as containing a more sensitive receptor than others. From 

each critical viewpoint a Landscape Architect will produce an assessment of the new 

development impact using a non-technical language to quantify the visual day-time 

magnitude. This planning guidance methodology plan will assist the lighting designer 

to use a similar approach but substituting a replicable calculation, or measurement, of 

physical magnitudes of light, to complement the non-technical, subjective, approach 

provided by others. However, luminaire orientation considerations can sometimes 

provide different night-time visual priority to those produced by day-time visual 

aesthetic techniques and it is important to identify alternative viewpoints and 

installation options at this early stage. 

Whenever the lighting statement is required to be carried out in conjunction with a 

landscape impact assessment it is important to maintain the same critical landscape 

viewpoints but additional points may require to be included, depending on the final 

design orientation of luminaires, where found to be night-time sensitive. 

Residential property close to the new development always forms the most important 

viewpoint since there are recommended illuminance limits on windows. However, 

distant viewpoints, with a clear view of the development often require the need for 

glare limiting assessments. It is often the magnitude of this viewed light intensity, 

which provides the source of complaint. If there is only one critical viewing direction 

the lighting designer can use this to direct light away from the observer but not at the 

expense of other, less critical, viewpoints. 

From each critical viewpoint the importance of each of 5 light limitation objectives, 

described later in point 11, but namely overspill, sky glow, light into bedroom windows, 

line of sight source intensity and building brightness will vary, relative to different 

viewpoints and human interest. The inclusion of a table of importance, exampled 

below, in the lighting design report will show the designer’s first approach to visual risk 

analysis with respect to the critical sensitive receptors. 




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Table 3.1 

Typical Table of Importance to sensitive receptor 

Receptor Overspill Skyglow Light into Source Building 

Location 

Windows Intensity Luminance 

Adjacent to site High Nil High High High 

Close to site Medium Low Medium High Medium 

Near to site Low Medium Low High Low 

Distant to site Nil High Nil High Nil 

4. Existing Lighting 

The calculation or measurement of existing lighting conditions has a twofold 

implication. 

A. Some light limitation values are based on maximum permissible limits. Lighting 

effects are accumulative and if an adjacent residential window illuminance has 

already reached its maximum recommended limiting objective, the new 

development should show that it has been designed to provide for a zero 

increase in illumination on the adjacent property. If the site has not been visited 

this important element will be missed. 

It is therefore sometimes inappropriate in a planning application to merely state 

that the limit will not be exceeded without stating the existing baseline criteria. 

Each planning application should therefore assume that there is no record kept 

of existing illuminance values and make submissions relative to site measured, 

or calculated, magnitudes. 

B. Unless the local planning authority has produced a night time environmental 

zone boundary plan (see following point 5) it is necessary for the lighting 

designer to assess the existing ambient luminance condition of the area so that 

the new design can be shown to be better than or commensurate with and not 

exceeding existing conditions. 

5. Establish Environmental Setting (essential) 

Where there is not a Dark Sky designated award scheme the lighting designer should 

consult the local planning authority to establish the existence of any local policy or 

strategy plan relating to the night-time environmental setting of the area in which the 

new development is proposed. In the absence of such a plan the designer will require 

to provide a self-assessment of the night-time setting from the information obtained 

during the visit to the area. This assessment may differ from the planning opinion and 

this disparity could result in rejecting the planning application and result in abortive 

design work. It is therefore essential that the planning authority, as recommended in 

PPG23 for England and Wales and PAN51 for Scotland, produce a night-time 

environmental protection strategy plan, in the form of four, or more, zone settings to 

mitigate the developer appealing against rejection of the scheme. 




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This section is equivalent, in landscape design terms, to the landscape character 

assessment and the Scottish Natural Heritage provides zone maps of day-time value 

of importance to society. 

All Dark Sky designated award schemes have well defined environmental zone 

boundaries as follows 

E0: New lighting excluded - eg Dark Sky Core 

E1: Intrinsically dark Areas - eg Dark Sky Buffer Zone, 

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks 

E2: Low district brightness - eg Dark Sky External Zone - 

Rural or small village locations 

E3and E4 (in CIE150:2005) do not relate to conditions expected in or 

close to a Dark Sky designated award area 

6. Baseline Condition Summary 

A summary table showing calculated or measured values at defined locations are 

easiest to understand and monitor, however, if there is no existing lighting in the area 

prior to the new development being implemented there is no need to undertake this 

measurement. 

When measurements are undertaken values of illuminance should show whether they 

have been measured horizontally or vertically, providing the height from ground level 

at which they were taken. 

7. Task Analysis (essential) 

Most exterior tasks have a particular lighting quality objective published [5] as a 

recommended value but it is sometimes necessary to compare new tasks with similar 

existing published operations. The essential point at this stage is to show that the 

lighting design quality objectives are not excessively high by comparing the design 

objectives with other similar task lighting recommendations. 

A regular planning example of this is found in lighting for sports where there are 

recommendations [6 et al] for different playing levels of individual games. Planning 

applications often show the average illuminance the design has achieved without 

declaring the playing requirement and thereby possibly using more energy than is 

needed. 

8. Lighting Design Objectives (essential) 

This should take the form of a short section where the designer creates a technical 

picture of the predicted “light technical parameters” which the development will be 

designed to achieve. The lighting quality will be described in terms of illuminance 

(volume) and sometimes luminance (brightness) and should be compared with a 

professionally published recommended lighting quality objective. 




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The lighting designer has access to many sources of published data and should state 

the source document(s) from which the data has been extracted. A good design will 

compare lighting quality recommendations with other publications and other equivalent 

task related recommendations when an exact task fit has not been found in published 

data. 

9. Lighting Design Iterative Methodology 

There is often more than one method of achieving the same lighting quality objectives 

and the lighting designer will often consider different methods as a mental assessment 

at pre-design stage. The various options are often not considered worthy of 

documenting and only one option is usually presented in the planning application to 

assist in simplifying the planning approval stage. It is now very important to show 

alternative considerations especially where there are electrical energy implications and 

this point is reinforced in a later point (see 13 - Designer’s Critique). 

In large projects small areas are sometimes used for trial calculations to show typical 

lighting levels for different options and for each option the designer should be 

assessing the likely implications of creating potentially obtrusive situations for adjacent 

residencies. CIE Report 150:2003 has a generalised flowchart showing a matrix of 

known pitfalls and benefits of different design options and luminaire mounting height 

features strongly in the matrix. 

As the design develops this process of part design and part appraise can identify the 

need to modify the design at an early stage and mitigate abortive design work which is 

often required if the obtrusive light process is carried out at the end of the design. 

Again the process of change as the design progresses is not often documented to 

avoid presenting a perceived weakness in the design methodology but if this is 

documented correctly it can show planners that external concerns have been allowed 

for and how the design has been constrained to accommodate the concerns. 

10. Horizintal Illuminance Predictions (essential) 

No design should be considered worthy of starting a planning application assessment 

if light level calculations have not been carried out. It is one of the simplest tasks in 

the lighting design process and should show a horizontal grid of predicted values on 

not only the task area but also the overspill beyond the site limits. Although there are 

no nationally published limitation values of horizontal illuminance at the site boundary 

many local authorities prescribe a locally determined value in development restrictions. 

Although the boundary limitation value is simple to monitor and measure, post 

development stage, it should not take precedence to the nationally defined limitation 

techniques because it may, if used in isolation, hide other more important obtrusive 

light issues described in point 11 (following). 

There are many computer programmes available today which can perform simple 

horizontal illuminance predictions, however, very few have integrated all the processes 

necessary to calculate and display potential obtrusive light impact values as outlined in 

point 11. Additionally, in order to assist in visual recognition of the task area relative to 

adjacent residential properties, the computer software should be able to import 

suitable mapping of the area and display the external critical observer locations from 

which predictions have been assessed. 

Calculated assessments are normally based on laboratory measured intensity values 

radiating at various angles from the luminaire. Each luminaire has a unique 




Version 03 


photometric fingerprint of light distribution and calculated predictions are only correct 

for the particular luminaire make and type selected for the calculation. Care should 

therefore be taken at planning approval stage to ensure that the same make and type 

of luminaire is installed as that proposed in the design. Substitute luminaires cannot 

be assumed to produce the same effect and planning consent should always be 

conditional on the luminaire type, mounting height, quantity, lamp type and wattage 

and luminaire orientation as calculated in the prediction. (Importance repeated in point 

17 - Luminaire Schedule) 

11. Obtrusive Light Calculations (essential) 

The CIE:150:2003 [3] and ILP guidance notes [4] provide lighting designers, planners and 

environmental health officers with national and internationally recognised technical 

limitations on stray light. These limitations can be considered as the technical 

equivalent to visual magnitude and values in excess of the recommendations could be 

assessed as causing a “nuisance”. The design should therefore be carried out in 

conjunction with monitoring these calculated limits as an iterative test and try process 

as the design progresses. Sometimes the obtrusive light calculations are carried out 

at the end of the design process, however, regardless of the point in time these checks 

are made no planning application should be accepted which does not outline 

calculated values for all, or at least the first three, of the following. 

A 

Direct line of sight light intensity from luminaires is probably the principal source 

of potential complaint since it often produces offensive glare. This is light 

radiated from a luminaire in a particular direction and the limits quoted [3&4] relate 

to intensity values viewed externally into the site. It is normal practice to 

calculate that the design mitigates the recommended limiting values from the 

prime viewpoints identified in the EIA and any additional viewpoints selected by 

the lighting designer. The table below shows the intensity limit for four night time 

environmental zones, site pre determined in point 5. 

Expected performance indicators 

Source Intensity E0 E1 E2 

Maximum Pre Curfew ( cd ) 0 2500 7500 

Maximum Post Curfew ( cd ) 0 0 500 

B 

Light intruding into property windows can be predicted by calculating values on a 

vertical grid representing a window, or series of windows. The recommended 

limits are additive to what is already being experienced, pre development. If the 

pre development limits are already exceeded the new design will require to 

show, by calculations, that zero additional light intrusion will be provided by the 

new development. 

Expected performance indicators 

Intrusion Control E0 E1 E2 

Maximum Pre Curfew (lux) 0 2 5 

Maximum Post Curfew (lux) 0 0 1 




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Both A and B above are essential elements in proving that the new development proposal 

will mitigate the majority of residents’ concerns. In the case where the development requires 

the use of all night lighting the more onerous “post curfew” limiting values should be chosen 

as the maximum limit. 

C 

The upward light ratio can vary between individual luminaires depending on their 

respective tilt angles and light distribution in their intended installed arrangement. 

Although the evaluation covers the direct upward component of light from the 

complete installation it does not include the light reflected upwards from the 

ground. Neither the ILP nor the CIE have defined or quantified this reflective 

element since no two developments have the same ground cover. As a general 

rule the darker the building or ground cover surfaces are, the lower the upward 

reflected component. 

Sky Glow Control E1 E2 

Upward Light Ratio 0% 2.5% 

In areas external to a Dark Sky designated area the direct upward light ratio 

calculation is for the complete installation the proposal application should state 

the individual luminaire elevations against which the calculation is based. Many 

good quality luminaires produce a 0% upward light ratio at zero degrees tilt but it 

only requires a vertical tilt of 10 0 to produce an evaluation of 2.5% upward light 

ratio. 

Most luminaires in a Dark Sky designated area are expected to be installed with 

a zero tilt and the following table shows the installed glare and intensity 

distribution limitations. 




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ENP Zone 

Dark Sky 

Requirements 

Between Core Zone 

and nearest 

population cluster > 

900 

Residential buffer 

between town 

centre and rural 

remainder (or 

centre of town with 

< 900) 

Town Centre with 

population > 900 

(excluding heritage 

style streets) 

Glare 

Class 

Maximum luminous intensity in 

cd/klm 


70 0 az 80 0 az 90 0 az 95 0 az 

Non technical 

description of luminaire 

light control in installed 

condition 

G6* 350 100 0 0 Fully cut-off installation 

in environmental zone 

E1 

G5- 

derivative 

350 100 5 0 Cut-off installation 

G4 500 100 10 0 Part Cut-off installation 

Heritage bowl style G4 500 100 10 0 

Heritage gas style G4+ 500 100 20 0 

External for 5 miles 

beyond Park 



All luminaires with 

lamps greater than 

20,000 lumens 

between Core Zone 

boundary and 

5 miles distant 

G3 . 100 20 2.5% Semi-Cut-off 


environmental zone E2 

G6** 350 100 0 0 Fully cut-off installation 

regardless of night time 


D 

The effect of glare, as viewed by an external observer, is controlled by limiting 

the viewed intensity as described in A, however, sometimes it is necessary to 

carry out a second glare assessment in sports lighting to protect the interests of 

spectators and players. This calculation process is additional to that carried out 

in A and not a substitute evaluation. 

Another additional glare evaluation may also be required to protect the interest of 

vehicle drivers. The term Threshold Increment has been limited to street lighting 

quality assessment calculations for at least 15 years but its use is now being 

expanded to ensure that vehicle drivers do not exceed a threshold increment 

limit of 15% from off-road installations situated adjacent to the public highway. 

Again this is an additional assessment and not a substitute for the requirements 

described in A and should be carried out as a cumulative process with the 

existing street lighting provision included in the calculation. 

E 

Building luminance is normally only carried out for structures, which are 

architecturally transformed at night by the application of illuminating techniques. 

Different surface textures and colours reflect light in different proportions and a 

luminance calculation should include a schedule of surface colours and reflection 

factor characteristics assumed in the calculation process. 




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F 

The calculation of the combined effect of direct and upward reflected light is 

generally un-necessary since there are no national or international 

recommended limits on which to judge success or failure in the proposed lighting 

design. There are also very few software algorithms which provide this 

calculation facility. It can, however, be used with good effect to show a visual 

comparison between old and new lighting installation technique. It can also be 

used to show the difference in upward reflections when the new lighting has 

been designed in conjunction with landscaping techniques to soften the effect of 

upward reflected light by reducing the area allocation of hard landscaping. 

Some all weather sports fields can reflect more upward light than that from 

natural grass due to the high proportion of sand fill in the mesh. In cases like 

this the increase in upward light should not be wholly associated with poor 

lighting design. If the direct upward component has been shown to be less than 

the recommended percentage limit for the particular environmental zone then the 

increase in upward aura can be assessed as a consequence of the development 

surface treatment. 

12. Comparing Design with Baseline (essential) 

A robust design methodology will carry out those assessments previously described in point 

11 as part of an iterative process during the formulation of the design. This iterative process 

involves providing trial assessments of the likely outcome of different lighting arrangements 

in small trial pockets in very large projects. In this way the impact assessment, in technically 

calculated magnitudes, can be formulated as the design progresses. 

Since some of the spill light control values are based on cumulative lighting results it is 

important to carry out calculations or take varied measurement assessments of the existing 

lighting arrangement to show that the new design overspill does not impinge or provide 

excess values when added to the existing arrangement. 

If the existing lighting arrangement has been calculated or measured to be providing 

excessive obtrusive light values and does not form part of the new development it may be 

judged unfair to over-constrain and penalize the new development for a previous 

generations’ over lighting technique. However, it may be possible to encourage the new 

development to enlarge the scope of the lighting assessment to provide alternative 

arrangements for the existing lighting to reduce the impact where the combined lighting 

values are found to be over the obtrusive limit recommendations. 

13. Designer’s Critique 

A robust design will often consider different elements and applications during the formulation 

stage but the planning application may only have one final version to approve or reject. In 

providing a critique, in the form of an appendix, the designer can outline some or all of the 

lighting options, which have been considered together with lighting technique reasons for not 

progressing with some of the options. This can sometimes help the planning officer come to 

a decision without referring the proposal back to the designer to try something different. 

14. Viewpoint Visualisation 

In addition to the calculations necessary to prove that the design does not produce obtrusive 

light towards the critical viewpoints the production of a lit environmental model can add 

visual simplicity to what can be, for many, a very complicated technical presentation. 




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There are several visualisation software packages now available, however, the construction 

of an electronic model is a labour intensive process and not all projects warrant this 

overhead cost. 

15. Virtual Walkthrough 

The production of a walkthrough is only the “icing on a cake” and can only be provided as a 

result of producing an electronic model as described in 14. However, its main advantage is 

that different viewpoints, other than the critical ones, can be considered and “visualised”. 

16. Surface Colour Schedule 

All electronic virtual artwork relies on the construction of electronic model surfaces and some 

software produces very lifelike images. Lighting calculation software, which uses the light 

distribution fingerprint particular to an individual luminaire manufacturer’s production model, 

does not have as wide a range of surface textures to visualisation software which has no 

lighting calculation facilities. Lighting calculation software relies on the designer creating a 

natural daytime colour match and a night-time reflection factor to create the model. 

A general analysis of the electronic model surfaces should be provided in the form of a 

schedule containing all the surface colours, in terms of the general colour description, the 

red / yellow / blue co-ordinate reference and the light reflection factor characteristics. 

At planning application stage this information not necessary to analyse compliance with most 

common light control analysis but it does become important when building luminance 

requires to be analysed. It also becomes important in showing which version of the colour 

scheme has been used in the calculation, especially if there has been several building 

material changes been made during the structure design stage. 

17. Luminaire Schedule (essential) 

This schedule forms an essential element in both the planning and the subsequent 

construction stage of the development. The schedule should contain a minimum of 5 items 

which indicate each individual luminaire’s light beam potential in terms of the following:- 

A Luminaire light distribution type (often included in a manufacturer’s catalogue 

number) 

B Lamp type and wattage 

C Mounting height 

D Orientation direction (between 0 and 359 0 with 0 0 relative to a declared point in the 

development plan. Some software calculation algorithms use North and others use East as 

0 0 but all use an anti-clockwise direction as the angle increases.) 

E Luminaire tilt (between 0 and 90 0 and the greater this angle the greater the potential 

for producing obtrusive light) 

In some calculation software the orientation and tilt is given as a composite x,y,z co-ordinate 

relative to the main calculation grid, eg on a sports field, and this sometimes makes it difficult 

to make a quick visual assessment of the luminaire orientation and elevation relative to 

distant property outside the site boundary. Most software calculation processes have an 

automatic conversion process and although the designer may have used an x,y,z coordinate 

to accurately aim each floodlight, relative to the playing surface, the software can 

automatically convert this 3 dimensional number into a 2 angle notational representation of 

the same positional aim without additional design work. The 2 angle system is easier to 

visualise at planning application appraisal stage. 




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This 5 way matrix (items A to E) is the minimum amount of information necessary to analyse 

the lighting design. Even the simplest of analysis could not proceed if any one of these 

items was missing from the schedule. 

Column and luminaire schedules are often constructed separately from information 

contained in the calculation process to assist in the presentation of contract drawings. 

These schedules often contain information relating to the electrical distribution circuits but 

should contain the same 5 way matrix information described above as an absolute minimum 

for contract construction. 

18. Energy Usage 

There is currently no government legislation covering the limitations on the electrical load for 

external lighting, equivalent to that which exists in Building Regulations for new interior 

lighting projects. Regardless of the lack in recommended limits there are two values, which 

a good design methodology could show the efficiency of the proposed lighting, especially 

when the installation is planned to replace an old existing arrangement. Both values are 

relative to the square area of the development with the first and foremost showing the 

electrical load distributed over the area of the site in watts per square metre. This value is 

likely to become the key measurement of the installation efficiency in the same way that the 

current Building Regulations attempt to limit the use of less efficient light sources. 

The second method may be to show the total lamp lumens per square metre of development 

in an attempt to prove that the use of less distribution efficient luminaires has been mitigated 

in the design. 

Neither of these two methods can show direct obtrusive light mitigation and should not be 

used in isolation to the direct methods previously described as a controlling light factor since 

their main function is only to show an energy control factor and an example of recent 

landmark projects results, using luminaires with high quality light control, are shown below. 

Budget priced luminaires will return higher watts per square metre. 

Exterior lighting designers are well equipped to using energy efficient discharge light sources 

and, unlike interior lighting design, low efficiency light sources, like tungsten halogen, are 

only used externally, with the exception of domestic installations, on very rare occasions. 

Discharge lamp wattage should, however, be totalled with the associated power consumed 

by the discharge control gear. A reference list of lamp wattages and associated circuit watts 

can be found at www.lcads.com 

Paragraph on remote control of power 

19. Schedule of Luminaire Profiles (essential) 

On large projects it is often necessary to utilise different types of luminaires to light an area 

effectively and efficiently. Most of the material produced so far has been very technical and 

this schedule is one of the few, which can be presented in a very simple and visual manner. 

The schedule should show a pictorial image together with design reference number, 

manufacturer’s catalogue number, lamp type and watts and the reflector beam width 

classification. 




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Luminaire manufacturers usually produce composite data sheets for their range but this can 

sometimes be too general to be included in a planning application and are not precise 

enough to itemise exact model and beam distribution proposed for each luminaire type 

included in the design. 

20. Layout Plan (essential) 

This is the last item of a 20 point good design methodology plan and it is sometimes the 

only item considered essential by some developers when submitting a planning 

application. It is just as essential as all the calculation presentations previously described 

and it is another form of visualisation as far as the planning application is concerned but a 

contractual document at construction stage. 

The plan should show all the new column and luminaire positions together with a reference 

number for each location in order to provide a relationship with the column and luminaire 

schedule described in point 17 and each luminaire orientation should be shown by an 

extended line from the mounting location. 

Layout plans are often only made to cover the site limits but for obtrusive lighting or 

environmental assessment studies it is important to include surrounding landscape, property 

and existing lighting arrangements to assist in creating a wider picture to assist in making a 

measured judgement possible at the planning application stage. 




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Bibliography 

Title 

Publisher 

[1] Directive 85/337/ EEC Council of the European Communities 

Directive 97/11/EC 1995 and 1997 

[2] Understanding and Dealing with Lighting Consultancy And Design 

Obtrusive Light 

Services Ltd 

3 rd Edition 2006 Rosemount, Well Road, Moffat 

[3] Guide on the limitation of the Society of Light & Lighting 

effects of obtrusive light from CIE Publications 

outdoor lighting installations 222 Balham High Road 

CIE Report 150:2003 

London SW12 9BS 

[4] Guidance notes for the reduction Free download at www.theilp.org.uk 

of obtrusive light 

[5] Guidelines for Landscape and Landscape Institute and IEMA 

Visual Impact Assessment Spon Press ISBN 0-415-23185-x 

[6] Lighting Guide No6 (1992) CIBSE Society of Light & Lighting 

The Outdoor Environment 222 Balham High Road 

London SW12 9BS 

[7] Technical Report No 4 CIBSE Society of Light & Lighting 

Sports Lighting Guide 

222 Balham High Road 

+ others eg London SW12 9BS 

Sports Council 

Lawn Tennis Association 

BS 5489-1:2003 

Road lighting design: 

Code of Practice 

BSEN 13201-2:2003 

Performance Requirements 

Technical Report No 5 

Brightness of Illuminated 

Advertisements (2001) 

Technical Report 24 

A practical guide to the 

Development of a public Lighting 

Policy for Local Authorities 

BSI 

BSI 

ILP 

ILP 




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Lighting Planning Application – Design Requirement Checklist 

Methodology Plan 

Statement of interested 

parties’ comments 

Survey of surrounding night 

environment 

Identification of critical 

viewpoints 

Establishment and calculation 

of existing lighting conditions 

Summary of baseline 

measurements and/or 

calculations 

Analysis of task lighting level 

recommendations 

Establishment of 

environmental light control 

limits 

Statement of new lighting 

design quality objectives 

Outline of iterative lighting 

design methodology 

Calculated measurement 

of Task working area(s) 

Distribution 

Warehouse 

 

Sports 

Complex 

 

Building Car 

Park 

Road 

Light 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overspill area(s) 

 

Obtrusive light calculation of 

Property intrusion 

Viewed source intensities 

Nominal glare assessment 

Direct upward light ratio 

Building luminance 

Combined upward 

illuminance grid 

Compare design achievement 

with baseline values 

Designer’s critique of final 

design constraints 

 

 

 

 

Viewpoint Visualisation 

Virtual walkthrough of 

 

illuminated site 

Schedule of model reflection 

factors 

Schedule of luminaire types, 

mounting height and aiming 

angles 

Schedule of energy usage and 

distribution 

 

 

 

Schedule of luminaire profiles 

 

Layout plan with beam 

orientation indication 

Proposal 

Provided

Lighting Management Plan - International Dark-Sky Association

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