For London Developers, Light Is a Heavy Burden

Due to a 12th century law, British buildings must avoid blocking light

The Shard tower in London, Western Europe's tallest, had 300 consultations about its impact on neighborsPhotograph by Toby Melville/Reuters

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Ben Moshinsky

April 19, 2012 at 11:05 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

BusinessWeek Cover Image (12_17, portrait)

This article is part of the April 23, 2012 issue of businessweek.

Real estate developers have long dealt with arcane construction rules and zoning restrictions. Builders in Britain have a particularly vexing challenge: a 900-year-old requirement that any new construction maintain a candle’s worth of sunlight for neighboring properties. U.K. landowners have had rights to natural light from the oft-overcast sky since the 12th century. In 2012, developers are paying dearly for casting shadows on nearby structures after a 2010 court ruling that the part of a building obstructing a neighbor’s natural light could be torn down.

The ruling has spawned architectural changes and construction delays, complicating central London’s skyscraper boom. “I’m wondering at what stage we say this isn’t relevant for today,” says Colette O’Shea, London development chief for Land Securities Group. “It started hundreds of years ago when everything was lit with candles.”