– Planning Approval Stage

Strategy & Lighting Management Plans

External Lighting Strategies and Light Management Plans for developments at planning stage – addressing council permit conditions and Australian Standards before design is locked in.

Contact for more info
– What we do

Lighting considered at planning stage, not after.

We prepare external lighting strategies and Light Management Plans structured to satisfy council permit conditions, planning scheme requirements and the relevant Australian Standards – reducing approval risk and redesign cost later in the project.

– Project types

Prepared across a range of development types

01

Multi-residential

Apartment and townhouse developments requiring external lighting control at boundaries.

02

Childcare & community facilities

Safety-focused lighting balanced against neighbouring residential amenity.

03

Commercial & mixed-use

Multi-tenancy sites with varied lighting needs across retail, office and residential zones.

04

Industrial & logistics

High-output site lighting managed against nearby sensitive receptors.

05

Sports & recreation facilities

Field and court lighting strategies balancing performance with spill control at boundaries.

06

Rural & wildlife overlay areas

Environmentally sensitive sites requiring NLPGW-aligned lighting strategy.

– Process

How a strategy is developed

01

Assessment

Establish the site’s Environmental Zone under AS/NZS 4282:2023 and the applicable curfew limits.

02

Application

Classify external areas under AS/NZS 1158.3 or AS/NZS 2560.2 aligning lighting levels to function and use.

03

Report

Define how to control spill, glare and upward waste light at the boundary.

04

Verification

Compliance modelling where required for projects with specific permit conditions.

-Overview

Lighting Strategies and Management Plans for Planning Approval

Spaces At Night prepares external lighting strategies and Lighting Management Plans for developments requiring planning approval.
Our documentation is structured to satisfy council permit conditions, planning scheme requirements and relevant Australian Standards. As lighting consultants we work at the planning stage to ensure external lighting is considered early – reducing approval risk, redesign costs and compliance issues later in the project.

Multi residential
Light Management Plan
Commercial
light management plan
Private
lighting strategy
Sports
VEU lighting design
Frequently Asked Questions

A Lighting Management Plan is a structured document prepared in response to planning permit conditions requiring external lighting to be controlled and contained. It outlines how lighting will comply with relevant standards, including AS/NZS 4282, and demonstrates that glare, light spill and upward light emission will be appropriately managed.

A Lighting Strategy is typically required during the planning approval stage for developments involving external lighting. Councils may request a strategy where a project interfaces with residential properties, environmentally sensitive areas, bushfire overlays, childcare facilities, or mixed-use developments.

A Lighting Strategy establishes the principles and compliance framework for external lighting at the planning stage.
A Light Management Plan is typically prepared in response to specific permit conditions and may include detailed luminaire controls, operational requirements and compliance verification pathways.

External lighting is generally assessed against:
AS/NZS 4282:2023 – Control of the Obtrusive Effects of Outdoor Lighting
AS/NZS 1158.3.1 – Lighting for Roads and Public Spaces
Safety by Design Guidelines (Victoria)
National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife (where applicable)
The applicable Environmental Zone (A0–A4) is determined based on site context.

Many councils require a Light Management Plan when developments include external lighting that may affect surrounding properties or environmentally sensitive areas. The plan demonstrates how lighting will comply with standards such as AS/NZS 4282 and outlines measures to control glare, light spill and upward light emission before installation.

lighting management plan and Council Lighting Permit Requirements

Related Lighting Compliance Services

Related Reading:
Where planning permits require confirmation of installed lighting performance, in-situ lux and luminance testing can be undertaken to verify compliance with AS/NZS 4282 and AS/NZS 1158. Click here.