This guide gives advice on site layout planning to achieve good sun lighting and daylighting, both within buildings and in the open spaces between them.

It is intended to be used in conjunction with the interior daylight recommendations for new buildings in the British Standard Daylight in buildings, BS EN 17037. It contains guidance on site layout to provide good natural lighting within a new development; safeguarding of daylight and sunlight within existing buildings nearby; and the protection of daylighting of adjoining land for future development.

A special section deals with loss of solar radiation for solar panels and for passive solar buildings that use the sun as a source of heating energy. Guidance is also given on the sun lighting of gardens and amenity areas. Issues like privacy, enclosure, microclimate, road layout, and security are briefly reviewed.

The appendices contain methods to quantify access to sunlight and daylight within a layout.