​Who We Are

​​

Precision in a World of Approximation

​

In an industry increasingly reliant on automated apps and rapid feasibility tools, ULS stands for forensic accuracy and architectural intelligence.

 

We believe that true development value isn't found in a 60-minute automated report; it is found in the detailed, legally defensible analysis that stands up to scrutiny—from the first sketch to the High Court.

​​

Our Heritage

​​

A Lineage of Precision

​

Our robust approach is inherited directly from the pioneers who defined the standards of our profession. Our roots trace back to Michael Brooks Associates, Drivers Jonas and Schatunowski Brooks — firms that established the technical rigour used in Rights of Light surveying today.

​

While others rely on proprietary "black box" software, our methods are grounded in the principles established by Alex Schatunowski, Michael Brooks and Elizabeth de Burgh Sidley.

​

This lineage ensures that our advice isn't just data—it is wisdom.

​

We understand the "why" behind the numbers, ensuring your scheme is built on a foundation of certainty, not just software assumptions.​​​

​

Our Leadership

​

Led by Expert Witnesses, Not Algorithms

​

Our Directors don't just manage teams; they define industry case law.

​

Ian Absolon is one of the industry's foremost authorities, acting as the Expert Witness in the landmark Bankside High Court trial.

 

When you engage ULS, you are engaging the level of expertise required to win in court.

 

We apply this same "Expert Witness" standard of care to every project, whether it is a pre-planning feasibility study or a final negotiation.

 

Our leadership ensures that "technical compliance" never comes at the cost of "commercial viability."

​

Our Approach

​

Grounded in our heritage, driven by innovation, this collective experience defines who we are.

 

While our foundations lie in the work of the pioneers who built our profession, our focus is firmly on the future.

​

We embrace modern technologies, evolving design thinking, and contemporary methods to deliver clarity, precision, and value for our clients.

 

At ULS, we unite the wisdom of our past with the innovation of the present — shaping the built environment of tomorrow.

 

Our Value

​

​Natural light is more than a design feature — it’s a key driver of planning success, sustainability performance, and asset value.

ULS helps clients:

​

• Secure planning approvals by mitigating daylight and sunlight impacts.

• Protect development value by managing Rights to Light risk.

• Deliver sustainability through efficient daylight design that supports BREEAM, WELL, and LEED standards.

• Enhance marketability, reduce energy demand and improve occupant wellbeing through better natural illumination.

​

How We Do It

​​

• Daylight & Sunlight Assessments – Town Planning application support and design optimisation.

• Rights to Light Consultancy – Legal risk identification, management, negotiation, and expert witness support.

• Forensic Feasibility – Detailed early-stage modeling that identifies genuine constraints and opportunities, preventing the 'redesign cycle' caused by simplified tools.

• Overshadowing & Glare Analysis – Managing comfort, compliance, and visual quality.

• Sustainability Integration – Advice aligned with BREEAM, WELL, and net-zero design objectives.

 

Our Approach

​

At ULS, we combine technical precision with strategic insight, helping our clients make informed design and investment decisions.

​

Why Clients Choose ULS

​

✅ Proven success in securing complex planning consents
✅ Trusted by leading developers and design teams
✅ Expertise across both planning and legal light issues
✅ Sustainable, data-led solutions aligned with modern building standards​​​​​​