What is a Shadow Diagram?

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A shadow diagram is effectively an outline of the site and surrounding properties that shows the shadows that the house you’re building will cast at different times of the year – in particular, at times like the midwinter solstice, when the shadow it casts is likely to be at its longest.

Shadow diagrams are often required by the local council for planning purposes, to demonstrate that the structure you want to build won’t block sunlight to surrounding properties. This is particularly important in areas with smaller blocks, where houses are being built near boundaries or where you’re building a multi-storey home.

As more people install solar panels and the importance of access to sunlight becomes more widely valued as a means of saving energy, taking shadows into account becomes more significant. Shadow diagrams are also a good way to understand how your own private outdoor spaces will be shaded.