Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the use of grow lights in sports (a) stadiums and (b) training facilities on levels of light pollution.

The Government recognises that light pollution may have an impact on the environment and biodiversity as well as affecting the health and wellbeing of people.

Through the 25 Year Environment Plan, we have committed to reducing all forms of pollution, including light pollution. My department works with colleagues across government whose policy areas affect the use of artificial light, including the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework policies include consideration of the impact of light pollution on local amenity, intrinsically dark landscapes and nature conservation. Defra has also contributed to the development of the DLUHC Planning Policy Guidance on light pollution published in November 2019.

The Government has put in place a range of measures to ensure that light pollution is effectively managed through the statutory nuisance regime. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities have a duty to investigate complaints about light emitted from premises which could constitute a nuisance or be harmful to health and have powers to take action where there is a problem.