Wales has taken an inspiring step towards protecting its dark skies. The Welsh Government has become the first in the UK to introduce a nationwide agenda that’s dedicated to reducing light pollution, with the release of the Planning for Dark Skies in Wales guidance. The new guidance is focused on safeguarding ecosystems and encouraging responsible and safe lighting design across communities, organisations, and public spaces.
The Institution of Lighting Professionals warmly welcomes the guidance, as the Institution has long championed responsible lighting by producing industry-standard documents such as our guidance on the reduction of obtrusive light (GN01) and the Professional Lighting Guide (PLG) series. The ILP’s principles around light spill, sky-glow reduction, and appropriate colour temperatures form much of the foundation for the Welsh guidance.
Technical Manager, Guy Harding, said: “The Good Practice document recently published by the Welsh government is an excellent and well-produced guide for those designing and installing exterior lighting. It provides clear, easy-to-read guidance on how to provide the necessary lighting for security and wayfinding, yet preserving the beauty of our night skies. It should be adopted much wider than just in Wales.”
The Welsh guidance aims to inform planners, developers, local authorities, and homeowners to make more informed decisions around lighting spaces and taking wildlife conservation into greater consideration. The guidance promotes warm-temperature LEDs, careful direction and shielding of luminaires, the use of sensors and adaptive controls and an overall message of considerate lighting and “light only what you need”.
Good lighting design is not simply about turning lights down or switching them off. It's about delivering safety, visual comfort, ecological protection, and energy efficiency in balance. That balance is difficult to achieve without a wider and deeper technical understanding. — something the ILP has been supplying to the UK lighting industry for over a century. Wales has proven what can be achieved with cross-industry collaboration. And thanks to the ILP’s contribution, the stars above Wales will remain visible for generations to come.
