The bottom picture is the latest render of the cricket side of the shared stand. The other 2 pictures are only indicative of what will be on the RL side, but probably not far off what will be built, a single tiered stand with corporate facilities at the top shared with the middle tier of the cricket side

This has to be finished in time for the Ashes test in May 2019, with a couple of test events beforehand for H&S reasons

Nothing can happen before Oct this year, because they've already sold seasoncards for next season, but I'd imagine they'll have to get a wriggle on soon because there's been no detailed planning app yet

The SS redevelopment will come after this, there's plenty of bumph on the City Council planning portal for that scheme, which is more or less a straight up rebuild with better facilities and roof. No increase on capacity though

After that they might look at the western terrace. I kind of wished they'd been more ambitious with the new stand because that's effectively the last chance to add capacity, unless they leave provision for a balcony tier on top, which would be pretty modestly sized, but a great corporate faciliity

Right to Light is not my field, but you are probably right. I think recent legislation requires neighbours to register their right to light more immediately or make compensation far more available as an option to developers to pay.
I am reminded of the new stand at Bradford City. There were neighbours' objections to that, but it was approved. The scale of the new build in relation to the original & the adjacent terraced building is staggering.

Anyway whatever if they mean what they say about completed by 2019 they are going have to get a move on

Will the south stand be seating or a terrace? If they do build the new SS with a different style of roof to what we have now and make it all seating a lot of the atmosphere will be lost. Look at the DW stadium that's all seating and there is no atmosphere there hardly, although that might be down to them having fans.

The DW's main occupiers are Wigan Athletic though so their was no chance for them to have a standing stand. Look at a out and out RL ground like Warrington and they have standing in the 'new-ish' stadium so I'm sure they'd keep the South Stand as a standing stand.

The original plans had two tiers, the upper one had seating & hospitality boxes if I recollect rightly.
Those plans were rejected by the council for being too high.
The revised plans showed an all standing new stand.