Skyarc Light and Solar Analysis Software

The UK’s first integrated system for climatic daylight, solar, rights-of-light and PV assessment

DPR has developed SkyArc — the UK’s first fully integrated, rapid light and solar analysis platform powered by bespoke in-house software.

Built for the feasibility stage, SkyArc delivers fast, cost-effective insight that helps clients identify risks early, improve design certainty, unlock development potential, and avoid costly redesigns later in the project lifecycle. In short, it provides a smarter, faster and more innovative foundation for confident decision-making from day one.

SkyArc enables live Climate-Based Daylight Modelling (CBDM) in line with BRE standards, alongside neighbouring daylight/sunlight, planning-led overshadowing, and legal rights-of-light assessment — all within a single workflow.

Bringing together planning daylight and sunlight analysis, legal rights-of-light testing, solar gain modelling and PV optimisation, SkyArc sets a new benchmark for integrated environmental assessment. Fully aligned with BRE guidance, British and European daylight standards, and simplified Part O requirements, it represents a step-change in early-stage development analysis in the UK and Ireland.

Why SkyArc Matters

As cities become denser and development becomes more ambitious, concerns around creating quality homes while limiting impacting existing neighbours have grown. SkyArc allows our clients to undertake initial testing to identify the risks and identify opportunities to maximise scale – quickly and cost effectively.

SkyArc can help with:

Speed: Live outputs for early design/feasibility stage.
Cost Efficiency: Undertake technical analysis at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional feasibility studies
Risk management: Identifies principal planning, statutory and legal risks, associated with light analysis, overheating, and PV studies.
Efficient design feedback: Guides ideal architectural design for a high-quality scheme design – to mitigate abortive redesigns.
Feasibility: Initial rights of light payment budgets to use as part of initial feasibility calculations

When integrated early, Skyarc becomes a proactive design tool rather than a late-stage compliance exercise.

What SkyArc can do for you

SkyArc is specifically designed for early-stage informative design. We can assess any scheme and its surrounding context using the following assessments.

Daylight & Sunlight impact on neighbours (planning, BRE guidelines)
Climate-Based Daylight Modelling (CBDM) self-tests (planning, BRE guidelines)
Sun Hours on Ground/shadow studies (amenity)
Rights of Light EFZ analysis + indicative compensation budgets
Solar Heat Gain checks
Photovoltaic (PV) output potential

The result is a robust, transparent assessment that stands up to scrutiny from planning authorities, neighbouring stakeholders and design teams alike.

Who SkyArc can support

SkyArc supports a wide range of clients, including:

Developers
Architects and masterplanners
Local authorities
Planning consultants
Development/Project/Property Managers
Housing associations
Community groups

Whether the project is a single building or a major regeneration zone, our team provides proportionate, timely and practical advice.

When to Commission a SkyArc session

Commissioning SkyArc is recommended when:

When planning in a sensitive context and needing early insight into enclosure or daylight/sunlight impacts
When exploring initial design options and wanting quick spatial testing to gauge feasibility
When comparing multiple massing scenarios to refine the development envelope and reduce redesign risk
When building next to sensitive neighbours and requiring early daylight/sunlight or Rights of Light checks
When an integrated environmental view is needed across daylight, sunlight, overshadowing, solar gain and PV potential
When early design certainty is required before appointing full consultants and cost-effective analysis is essential