A big thank you to VELUX for featuring us in the latest edition of their VIEW magazine.
When we assess a new plot of land, we start with value: what type of homes will sell here, what layout makes the best use of the site, and how every square metre contributes to the final sale price. Within that thinking, daylight becomes a commercial decision, not just a design one.
We’re both the client and the builder
Unlike many other housebuilders, we sit on both sides of every project from day one.
“We are both the client and the builder. We buy the land, develop the scheme with the architect, and take that through planning and the final sale of the property,” says Chris Hammond, owner of Beau Property.
That early involvement means decisions about layout, room use, and daylight are built into the business case from the very start, not bolted on later.
Daylight turns space into value
A darker upper floor can feel compromised or secondary. A bright, well-lit one feels more liveable, more attractive, and ultimately more marketable.
“People don’t necessarily expect roof windows, but when they go into those spaces, they feel the difference,” Chris explains.
Buyers may not ask for roof windows by name, but they respond to bright, appealing spaces. Daylight becomes a commercial asset as much as an architectural feature.
Every decision involves trade-offs
Design intent doesn’t always survive planning. On one scheme, roof windows had to be removed entirely due to a local “dark skies” policy.
“We had a scheme where the planning officer was keen to remove the roof lights because of a ‘dark skies’ policy. Even though we explained the automated blinds and external solutions, they didn’t really buy into that option, so we had to remove them from the application.”
Cost pressures during value engineering, and competition for roof space from solar panels, add further trade-offs between energy solutions and daylight access. Even so, some things aren’t up for negotiation: “If there’s a room in the loft space, having at least one roof window is a non-negotiable for us.”
Bringing VELUX in earlier
Roof windows have traditionally been specified by the architect and purchased through builders’ merchants, with VELUX entering the process relatively late. We’ve taken a different approach, involving VELUX earlier by sharing schemes during development and drawing on their technical input, including daylight analysis and simulation, to help optimise designs before decisions are locked in.
It’s a more collaborative way of working, one where daylight isn’t just specified, but actively shaped as part of the overall offer.
Keeping pace with the timeline
The one practical challenge: our schemes move fast, especially through planning, and support only helps if it keeps pace. CGI visualisations are one example where turnaround times don’t always match the speed we need, a good reminder that early collaboration only works when it’s delivered at the right speed for the segment.
The bottom line
Every decision we make is weighed against value, cost, and buyer appeal, and roof windows sit firmly within that equation. They turn underused space into desirable living space, improve how buyers experience a home, and support the commercial logic of a scheme from an early stage.
Daylight isn’t guaranteed. It has to compete with planning constraints, budget pressure, and other priorities. But when it’s included, it’s usually because it strengthens the whole proposition.
