North Yorkshire Council is set to adopt a policy designed to prevent light pollution in Nidderdale.
Astronomers commissioned by Nidderdale AONB — which has since been renamed Nidderdale National Landscape — in spring 2022 found the night skies in the north west of the area, including Upper Nidderdale and moorland near Masham, are some of the least affected by light pollution in England.
With this in mind, the council drew up a Nidderdale AONB-specific supplementary planning document for its Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can occur.
The policy was first devised by the former Harrogate Borough Council in February 2023. Senior councillors on North Yorkshire Council are now expected to adopt the plan.
The document, once adopted, will be used as a “material consideration” by councillors when deciding on planning applications in the area.
Among its key objectives include introducing a “zoning scheme” to protect the darker skies in Nidderdale.
It also recommends that external lights in the darkest zone, which includes Upper Nidderdale, should only have 500 lumens, which is a measurement of visible light to the human eye.
The document adds that light pollution from farm and commercial buildings is “the most obvious source” of light pollution in the darkest zone of the AONB.
Senior councillors will be asked to adopt the policy document at an executive meeting on May 7.
Read more:
- Yorkshire Dales joins international dark sky list
- Harrogate council looks to protect ‘darkest skies in the country’ from light pollution
