London’s newest skyscrapers could soon be blackout at night

How does light pollution affect city dwellers?

We might find the look of a glittering skyline enchanting, but growing evidence suggests that exposure to bright lights in the evenings confuses our circadian rhythms.

It does this by lowering the production of melatonin, a naturally occurring chemical in our brain that tells us to snooze. Reduced melatonin levels are known to result in sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress, anxiety, and other health issues.

Making the argument for a lights-out bill more attractive, recent studies say light pollution in cities has even been linked to the development of diabetes and certain cancers.

Of course, we can take responsibility for our health by reducing our personal screen time at night. But governing bodies of major cities should do their part by only approving construction and planning policies that allow residents’ homes to be left in the dark.

A recent example of this is a plan put forward by the Madison Square Garden Company.

It proposed to build a stadium shaped like a massive glowing orb in the Stratford area of London but was delayed after locals pre-empted that their flats would be aglow at all hours. Some threatened to move out of the area.

Unfortunately for them, an update in January confirmed that is one step closer to being built after plans were approved by the London Legacy Development Corporation. It’s anybody’s guess whether the city’s new bill will deter it.

It’s clear that London residents would appreciate being able to choose when to live in the dark. Reducing energy use is also a top priority to achieve net zero.

It looks like the new bill will hopefully be able to help at least those living in central areas. As for neighbours of the soon-to-be glowing orb… well, did you really like Stratford that much anyway?