B5.5.1 Promoting healthier living

Ground floor homes and north-facing rooms typically receive less direct sunlight, making interiors feel darker and less inviting. To compensate, ground floor dwellings and singleaspect north-facing homes should have higher ceiling heights of at least 2.4 metres.

Higher ceilings improve natural light distribution, enhance spaciousness, and support better air circulation, helping to create more comfortable and inviting living spaces despite limited sunlight or exposure.

Proposed windows should be positioned to maximise solar gain and daylight, capture views of outdoor spaces, and support wellbeing by connecting residents to nature. Well-placed windows also improve natural surveillance and safety.

Development proposals should also ensure main habitable room windows are not placed near sources of noise, odour or other disturbances (for example, bin stores, delivery yards or service areas).

Exceptions:

• with the aim of reducing light spill and its associated disturbance, windows should avoid facing designated wildlife sites or known bat foraging and commuting routes.

Roofs should be designed with future adaptability in mind, allowing for potential conversion into habitable spaces where appropriate. Roofs and ceilings should be constructed at a suitable pitch (typically a minimum of 30 degrees) to enable loft conversions.

Exception: Where a steeper roof would cause unacceptable impacts (such as overshadowing, loss of privacy, or visual harm to the street scene) alternative design solutions should be explored.