Glossary definition
Right to Light
A legal right enjoyed by a property owner to receive natural light through defined apertures, established after 20 years of uninterrupted enjoyment under the Prescription Act 1832. Adjoining owners can seek an injunction to prevent development that would substantially interfere with their right to light, potentially halting or redesigning a scheme.
Definition
A legal right enjoyed by a property owner to receive natural light through defined apertures, established after 20 years of uninterrupted enjoyment under the Prescription Act 1832. Adjoining owners can seek an injunction to prevent development that would substantially interfere with their right to light, potentially halting or redesigning a scheme. Developers should commission a right to light survey early in the design process, as compensation settlements or scheme amendments can significantly affect project viability.
See also
Closely related terms.
Planning Permission
Formal consent from the local planning authority required before carrying out most types of development, including new construction, material changes of use, and significant alterations to existing buildings.
Viability Assessment
A financial appraisal submitted to the local planning authority to demonstrate that a development scheme cannot viably deliver the full policy requirements for affordable housing, S106 contributions, or CIL.
Build Cost
The total cost of construction works on a development project, typically including materials, labour, preliminaries, and contractor margins.
Further reading
Guides that touch this term.
Guide
Legal Due Diligence in Development Finance: What Solicitors Check
Legal due diligence is the backbone of every development finance transaction. This guide explains what solicitors investigate, common issues that delay completions, and how to prepare your legal pack.
9 min read readReadGuide
How Does Development Finance Work? A Complete Guide for UK Developers
A ground-up guide to how development finance is structured in the UK, covering loan mechanics, drawdown schedules, monitoring surveyors, and what lenders look for in your application.
5 min read readRead
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