Good lighting is an important part of a development proposal to provide a safe and pleasant way to move from the street to your front door during the hours of darkness.

A well-designed site layout is the most important part of the design process for new development. Well-designed site layouts create the spaces necessary for safe, welcoming and good amenity residential environments.

Resource consent applications for multi-unit residential developments need to address Residential Design Principles(external link) which include provision for good visibility with effective lighting, and other CPTED principles.

Lighting networks need to be considered early in the design process to allow for the provision of lighting to shared or common areas including pedestrian access ways, car parks, bike and bin storage, and communal open spaces. Early consideration should be given to ensuring sufficient space in landscape garden beds for bollard lighting and/or pole lighting, such as in medium-large car parking areas.

Cabled lighting is the most effective system for providing consistent low-level amenity lighting throughout the whole year, reduces glare and sharp contrasts in lux levels which can stun the eye and minimises ongoing maintenance costs.

The Council recommends that for multi-unit or large-scale residential development proposals, a qualified lighting designer is engaged early to work with developers, designers and landscape architects to prepare a lighting plan. Some lighting manufacturers have in-house lighting designers who can prepare a lighting plan based on the use of their products.

Lighting plans are expected to meet New Zealand Standards NZS1158.3.1 which governs lighting not only for public streets but also for multi-unit residential developments.  

Requirements

Guidance notes