We are closing this petition and would like to thank all of those who have supported the Garden Museum, London Skyline Campaign, SAVE Britain's Heritage, Stop the Blocks, the London Gardens Trust, Lambeth Village, London Wildlife Trust and the Metropolitan Parks and Gardens Association in our campaign to protect green spaces from being overshadowed.

Prior to this campaign, planning policy for London required just two hours of direct sunlight on a park, playground or wildlife area on the two annual equinoxes of 21st March and 21st September. This meant that your local park could be cast into shadow for 22 hours a day. And in mid-winter, when the sun is even lower, your park or playground could have been placed in permanent shadow. 

As a result of this campaign and your support, the Garden Museum was invited to give evidence to the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee, where we suggested amendments to the draft guidance to protect green spaces from being put in the dark. Last month the GLA published its new Housing Design Standards for London. This drops the BRE guidance and replaces it with a policy stating that existing public realm should not be “unduly overshadowed to the detriment of health, wellbeing, biodiversity or amenity” (A1.9.), strengthening the importance of sunlight in green spaces.

We are grateful to everyone who signed and supported this petition, and to the London Assembly for taking the time to listen and make meaningful changes to protect the future of green space. We hope the guidance supports anyone campaigning to protect their own green spaces from the shade of blocks of luxury flats.