When Professional Home Builders (PHBs) assess a new plot of land, they start with value. What type of homes will sell here? What layout makes the best use of the site? What type of homes does the specific area need? And ultimately, how can each square metre contribute to the final sales price? Within that assessment, daylight becomes a commercial decision.
In a recent conversation with UK-based PHBs Chris and Georgina Hammond, owners of Beau Property, one point came through clearly. Decisions about roof windows are part of a much broader calculation about space, appeal, and return.
PHBs as both client and builder
Unlike many other customer groups, PHBs often sit on both sides of the project, shaping the scheme from the beginning and carrying the commercial risk themselves.
As Chris Hammond explains, “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.”
That early involvement means decisions about layout, room use and daylight are built into the business case from the start.
“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.”
Chris Hammond, Owner, Beau Property
Daylight helps turn space into value
For Beau Property, daylight plays a role in unlocking the value of a home. A darker upper floor may be seen as compromised or secondary. A bright, well-lit one feels more liveable, more attractive, and ultimately more marketable.
Chris puts it simply, “People don’t necessarily expect roof windows, but when they go into those spaces, they feel the difference.”
Buyers may not ask for roof windows by name, but they do respond to bright, appealing spaces. In that sense, daylight evolves from an architectural feature to a commercial asset.
Exterior photos
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Every decision involves trade-offs
At the same time, decisions around products and design features can be complex. Planning requirements can override design intent entirely. Chris shared an example where roof windows had to be removed due to a local dark skies policy and concerns over light pollution.
“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.”
Even after planning, other pressures follow. During value engineering, specifications may be reduced to control cost. Roof space may also be under pressure from other priorities, such as solar panels, creating direct trade-offs between energy solutions and daylight access.
Despite the trade-offs, Chris is clear about the importance of daylight in key spaces: “If there’s a room in the loft space, having at least one roof window is a non-negotiable for us.” This reinforces that, even with trade-offs, daylight holds its place when it is central to the value of the home.
A changing role for VELUX
And it is this value, of daylight as part of the commercial equation, that changes the role VELUX can play. Historically, roof windows were often specified by the architect and purchased through builders’ merchants as part of a conventional supply chain. In that model, VELUX entered the process relatively late.
Today, Beau Property is involving VELUX earlier. By sharing schemes during development and drawing on technical input, the team can explore how daylight can be optimised before decisions are finalised. Support such as daylight analysis and simulation helps create the right indoor comfort, strengthen conversations with stakeholders and demonstrate value in the design.
While the supply chain itself remains unchanged, the relationship has evolved. Beau Property now engages directly with VELUX alongside that process, bringing earlier dialogue and technical support into key design decisions. This creates a more collaborative way of working, where daylight is not just specified, but actively shaped as part of the overall offer.
Collaboration only works if it matches the pace of the segment
There is, however, a practical challenge. PHBs often work on tight timelines, especially as schemes move through planning. Support is most valuable when it fits that pace. Chris highlighted CGI visualisations as one example where turnaround times do not always match the speed needed during the planning phases. This is a useful reminder that earlier collaboration only offers support when it is delivered in a way that aligns with the realities of the segment.
Daylight is part of the business case
For PHBs, every decision is weighed against value, cost, and buyer appeal. Roof windows sit within that equation. They can help turn underused space into desirable living space. They can improve how buyers experience a home. And they can support the commercial logic of the scheme from an early stage.
That does not mean daylight is guaranteed. It must compete with planning constraints, budget pressure, and other priorities. But when it is included, it is often because it strengthens the overall proposition.
As we continue working with Professional Home Builders, the opportunity becomes clear. Daylight plays a direct role in how value is created, assessed, and realised within a project. This opens a more meaningful role for VELUX earlier in the process, supporting both design decisions and the commercial thinking behind them.
Interior photos
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