Floodlights for sandschools - planning permission?

scatty_mare

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Looking at sorting out some kind of lighting for a private sandschool at a private house, and wondering if anyone knows the rules on planning permission. I have heard that you don't need pp if the lights are mobile, or if they are below a certain wattage. Does anyone know?

Thank you very much :)
 
Check with the planning office' the chances are you will need pp. Or you could use site lights from Wickes or the like, they're portable and won't need pp.
 
I would be careful, as if you ask you might find that it gets refused. Our Parish Council gets lots of applications for menages and very often there is a condition that there isn't lighting, which I think is mean.

It depends on how close the neighbours are, and if they are likely to complain. I think that some people imagine it is going to be like a football pitch. However, be careful that the lights don't shine out over the countryside and annoy other people, otherwise they will be complaining. If they are discrete maybe they won't even notice. (Not the PC answer!)
 
when we had our own place in essex we had lights and the council made us remove 3 of the 6- the three facing a road as the 'glare' was considered dangerous to road users- so even after planning was agreed (when the planning for the arena was submitted) 3 of the lights were removed so we had to come with one each end of arena and one in centre down one side facing away from road.
 
Thank you for the replies, some interesting advice. We're just testing the water really as we don't want to get the council's back up and they are already a bit spiky about menages as it is.
It is a fairly secluded location and in a valley so not really visible except from one spot of a country lane, but not from any houses I don't think.
I think I'll do some covert sniffing around and see what else I can find out! Thank you for your replies, both PC and not so!
 
It would probably be a good idea to contact a lighting specialist. Double assimetrical (sp?) lights are best at spreading light across a surface without causing it to spill or glare nearby users. If you are planning fixed lighting you will need planning permission and it will be passed to environmental health and probably the countryside officer for their consideration. If you have come up with a plan/scheme that shows you are thinking about the effects on neighbours, country side etc you are more likley to be taken seriously. You could also suggest hours of use restrictions such as all light to be out by 9 or 10 pm. If you use portable site lighting you wouldnt need pp providing they are not used more than 28 days per year
 
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