Business Details
7 Years
experience
Expert Right to Light Solutions Across the UK
Smith Marston is a specialist consultancy providing expert Right to Light and Daylight & Sunlight assessment services across the UK. Established by professionals with over 20 years of combined experience in property rights and boundary disputes, we deliver precise technical analysis and legally robust reports for residential and commercial clients. Regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), our team utilises advanced 3D CAD modelling and BRE-compliant methodologies to resolve complex light-related issues. We support developers, architects, legal advisors, and homeowners through planning applications, legal disputes, and boundary conflicts, maintaining strict adherence to professional standards.Our consultants hold RICS Expert Witness accreditation and have contributed to landmark cases involving community opposition to large-scale developments. With regional offices in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, and Newcastle, we combine local knowledge with national expertise to protect property rights and facilitate successful project outcomes.
Services
Right to Light Assessments
Daylight & Sunlight Reports
Boundary Dispute Resolution
Expert Witness Services
Planning Application Support
Details
- Year established: 2019
Highlights and features
- We are RICS-regulated surveyors with 20+ years of dispute resolution experience
- Our consultants hold RICS Expert Witness Accreditation Service certification
- We use 3D CAD modelling and BRE-compliant software for accurate assessments
- Our team has successfully supported community opposition to major developments
- We provide clear, actionable advice for both domestic and commercial clients
Associations and certifications
- RICS
What people say
Exceptional service and expertise
Highly knowledgeable and professional
Provided clear, practical advice
Timely and detailed reports
Ethical and client-focused approach
Services
Right to Light Assessments
We conduct detailed Right to Light assessments to determine potential legal impacts of developments on property light access. Using BRE-compliant software and 3D modelling, our RICS-accredited surveyors produce legally defensible reports for planning applications and dispute resolution. Our assessments consider historical light access, property boundaries, and potential compensation claims, providing clear guidance for developers and property owners.
Daylight & Sunlight Reports
Our BRE 209-compliant daylight and sunlight reports assess development impacts on habitable spaces. Using advanced photometric studies and 3D CAD models, we evaluate vertical sky components, annual sunlight hours, and outdoor amenity areas. These reports meet local authority requirements for planning applications, ensuring compliance with current building standards and helping secure development approvals.
Boundary Dispute Resolution
We provide expert boundary dispute resolution services combining property law knowledge with precise surveying techniques. Our RICS-registered surveyors analyse conveyance documents, conduct measured surveys, and produce boundary determination reports. We help clients resolve conflicts through mediation or formal legal proceedings, offering expert witness testimony when required to establish legally defensible boundary positions.
Expert Witness Services
Our RICS Expert Witness Accreditation Service-certified surveyors provide impartial expert reports for court proceedings. We prepare detailed technical evidence on light rights, boundary disputes, and property impacts, offering clear explanations of complex surveying matters. Our expert testimony supports legal teams in resolving property-related litigation with technically accurate, court-compliant documentation.
Planning Application Support
We assist with planning applications through comprehensive light assessments and boundary evaluations. Our services include pre-application consultations, BRE-compliant daylight modelling, and dispute mitigation strategies. We work with developers, architects, and local authorities to address potential light-related objections, ensuring applications meet regulatory requirements while protecting property owners' rights.
People
Adrian Marston
Chartered Surveyor
Adrian Marston is a RICS-registered surveyor specialising in Right to Light and boundary disputes. With over 20 years' experience, he provides expert witness testimony and technical reports for complex property cases. Adrian combines advanced 3D modelling techniques with deep legal knowledge to deliver precise assessments for residential and commercial clients across the UK.
Philip Smith
Surveyor Director
Philip Smith leads technical operations at Smith Marston, focusing on daylight/sunlight assessments and planning applications. A qualified expert witness, he has supported numerous community campaigns against inappropriate developments. Philip's expertise in BRE-compliant light analysis has contributed to successful planning permissions while maintaining strict adherence to RICS professional standards.
Questions
What is a Right to Light assessment?
A Right to Light assessment determines if a proposed development would legally restrict light access to existing properties. We use 3D modelling to produce BRE-compliant reports for legal and planning purposes.
How do daylight and sunlight assessments differ?
Daylight assessments measure diffuse light in habitable rooms, while sunlight assessments evaluate direct sunlight exposure. Both follow BRE 209 guidelines for planning applications but address different aspects of light quality.
Can neighbours block planning permission?
Neighbours may object to developments affecting their light rights. Our assessments determine potential impacts and help resolve disputes through technical evidence rather than subjective claims.
What causes boundary disputes?
Boundary disputes typically arise from conflicting property deeds, inaccurate Land Registry plans, or physical boundary changes. Our surveyors analyse historical documents and conduct precise measurements to establish legally defensible boundary positions.
How are light loss compensation amounts determined?
Compensation considers light reduction severity, property value impact, and development profits. Our expert reports provide quantifiable evidence to support fair settlements between affected parties.
What BRE guidelines apply to light assessments?
We follow BRE 209 'Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight' for planning applications. This guidance specifies testing methods for vertical sky components, annual sunlight hours, and outdoor amenity areas.
