| Glossary of terms ... "The Conveyancing Report Agency Glossary is a guide to the most commonly used terms on the Local Plan, Unitary Development Plan (UDP) and Local Authority Searches".
Disclaimer
This Glossary is neither a statement of law nor an interpretation of the law, and its status is only an introductory guide to planning issues and should not be used as a source for statutory definitions.
Glossary of terms
A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z
A Air Quality Management Strategy
A designation made by a local authority where an assessment of air quality results in the need to devise an action plan to improve the quality of air
Amenity Space
A positive element or elements that contribute to the overall character or enjoyment of an area.
Amenity Green-space
Open Land, often landscaped, that makes a positive contribution to the appearance of an area or improves the quality of the lives of people living or working locally.
Ancient Woodland
Woodland that is believed to have existed from at least medieval times
Archaeological Priority Area / Ancient Monuments
Areas which are known to be of archaeological importance because of past finds, excavations or historical interest.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An area with Statutory National Landscape designation, the primary purpose of which is to conserve and enhance natural beauty.
Article 4 Direction
Direction removing some or all permitted development rights, for example within a conservation area or curtilage of a listed building. This is issued by the local planning authority.
B Breach of Conditions Notice
A notice served by a local planning authority where they suspect that a planning condition linked to planning permission has been breached.
Bus Priority Measures
This is designed to give Bus priority on some routes through traffic management measures.
C
Change of Use
A change in the way that land or buildings are used. Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO)
An order issued by the government or local authority to acquire land or buildings for public interest purposes. For example, for the construction of a major road etc.
Conservation Area
Areas of special architectural or historic interest.
Conservation Area Consent (CAC)
Consent required for demolition / alterations within a conservation area, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.
Contaminated Land
Defined in Section 78 A (2) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as
“any land which appears to the local Authority in whose area it is situated to be in such a condition, by reason of substances in, on, or under, the land, that:-
a) significant harm is being caused or there is a significant possibility of such harm being caused; or
b) pollution of controlled waters is being, or is likely to be, caused.”
Cycle Network
An integrated network of both on and off road routes to facilitate a safer environment for cyclists.
D
Development Limits
A line drawn in order to define the area of a settlement within which development is acceptable in principle subject to detailed consideration of environmental, amenity, access, public service provision and other considerations. The development of land within the limits will depend on planning permission being obtained. Areas outside the limits are regarded as the open countryside. However, this does not imply that the development of all open spaces and under-developed areas within the limits is acceptable. Distributor Road
Roads that distribute traffic and bus services within the main residential, commercial and industrial built up areas.
E
Enforcement Notice
A notice requiring the discontinuance of an unauthorised use and/or the removal of buildings, including restoration of land, where development has been begun without permission or in breach of a condition.
Environmental Improvement Corridor
Enhance the appearance on Improvement Corridors in the city by:
- requiring development proposals to retain existing landscape and wildlife features and contribute to the overall aim of improving the environment of the corridor by:
- incorporating a high standard of landscaping and boundary treatment within the site;
- paying particular attention to screening, structures and buildings adjacent to the road, railway or canal;
- carrying out environmental improvements to vacant land and derelict land. Also landscaping schemes along the corridor generally;
- refusing advertising consent for, or issuing discontinuance notices against hoardings, signs and other advertisements which by reason of their size and situation detract from the visual amenity of the corridor.
F
G
Green Belt
A designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped. The purpose of the green belt is:
• To check the unrestricted sprawl of built-up areas
• To safeguard the surrounding countryside from further encroachment
• To prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another
• To preserve the special character of historic towns
• To assist in urban regeneration.
Green Corridor
A network of undisturbed land areas connected by designated pathways / cycleways for the movement of wildlife and humans.
Green Wedges
Comprise of open areas around and between parts of settlements, which maintain the distinction between the countryside and built up areas. These can also provide recreational opportunities.
Green Space
Green Space is defined as being any vegetated and or structure, water or geological feature. It may be public or privately owned, and may or may not have public access. Greenspace includes: Multi-purpose urban parks and gardens; nature parks; outdoor sporting facilities; children's play area; amenity greenspace and country parks.
H
Heritage Coast
An area, naturally designated, or largely undeveloped. Balances the needs of conservation, recreation, tourism and commercial activity. Historic Parks & Gardens
Parks and gardens included in a register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest prepared by English Heritage.
I
Infill Development
The development of a relatively small gap between existing buildings. Inset Village / Village Envelope
Boundaries defined on a map beyond which the local planning authority proposes that a village should not be allowed to extend.
J
K
L
Listed Building
A Building of special architectural or historic interest. Listed buildings are graded I, II. Grade I being the highest. Being Listed includes the interior as well as the exterior of the building, and any buildings or permanent structures. Listed Building Consent (LBC)
A permission required for the alteration or demolition of a listed building.
Listed Building Enforcement Notice
A notice issued by a local planning Authority if work is carried out on a listed building without consent, and requiring that the building be brought back to its former state or other remedial works.
Local Centre
A small group of shops servicing a small catchment area.
Local Nature Reserve
Area designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 as being of particular importance to nature conservation and where public understanding of nature conservation issues is encouraged.
M
Mixed Use / Mixed Use Development
Provision of a mix of complementary uses, such as residential, community and leisure uses, on a site or within a particular area.
N
National Nature Reserves
An area designated by English Nature to protect and conserve nationally important areas of wildlife habitat and geological formations and to promote scientific research. All National Nature Reserves are Sites of Special Scientific Interest. National Park
Tract of predominantly open and attractive countryside designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 with its own administration and management role and function as a local planning authority. The statutory purposes of National Parks are to conserve and enhance their natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage.
Nature Conservation
The preservation, management and enhancement of natural plant and animal communities.
Neighbourhood Renewal
The government’s overall plan for regenerating disadvantaged areas.
New Town
A free-standing new settlement designated and planned under the New Towns Act 1946 and subsequent legislation.
O
Open Space
All space of public value, including public landscaped areas, playing field, parks, play areas and areas of water.
P
Primary Shopping Frontage / Area
That area of a shopping centre which is generally the busiest, and contains the largest shop units and major multiples. These are primarily in use Class A1.
Private Open Space
Open space that is usually privately owned and is not usually accessible by members of the public.
Public Open Space
Land provided in urban or rural areas for public recreation, though not necessarily publicly owned.
Public Right of Way
A way where the public has a right to walk, and in some cases ride horses, bicycles, motorcycles or drive motor vehicles, which will be designated either as a footpath, a bridleway, a road used as a public path (RUPP) or a byway.
Q
Quality Bus Route
High-quality, high frequency bus route, with a higher degree of bus priority measures installed to speed up journeys.
R
Regionally Important Geological / Geomorphological Site (RIGS)
Non-statutory sites of regional importance recognised by English Nature and local authorities. Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS)
The new type of policy guidance and advice issued for each region in England by the Secretary of State. These documents also replace the Structure Plans formerly produced by the County Councils. They indicate how a region should look in 15 to 20 years time. It identifies the scale and distribution of items such as housing, areas for regeneration, environment, transport and economic development.
S
Scheduled Ancient Monument
A structure placed on a schedule compiled by the Department of National Heritage in England and Wales for protection under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 Secondary Shopping Frontages
A retailing area. Secondary frontages provide greater opportunities for a diversity of uses
Section 106 Agreement
A binding legal agreement under section 106 of the 1990 Town & Country Planning Act between a council and a developer associated with a grant of planning permission and regarding matters linked to the proposed development.
Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) or Site of Biological Interest (SBI)
Locally important sites of nature conservation adopted by local authorities for planning purposes. (See also Local Nature Reserve)
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
An SSSI is an area that has been notified as being of special interest under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
A site designated under the European Community Habitats Directive, to protect internationally important natural habitats and species. Strategic Employment Site
Coherent areas of land within the main industrial estates which are, in terms of environment, road access, location, parking and operating conditions, well suited for retention in industrial use.
Strategic Road
The highest level of the road network, made up of trunk roads, priority routes and designated roads.
T
Town Centres
Describes city, town and traditional suburban centres which provide a broad range of facilities and services and which fulfil a function as a focus for a community and for public transport. Town Centre Management
A partnership of local organisations, businesses and individuals to promote the common good of a town by developing, managing, promoting and improving facilities, the useful resources, the economy and the environment of a town centre.
Town Centre Strategy
Action plans to sustain and encourage the growth of services and amenities in a town centre through a partnership of the local authority and various organizations and people.
Traffic Calming
Management measures designed to lower traffic speeds or redirect traffic to alternative routes to avoid congestion, reduce accidents and injuries and prevent excess levels of pollution.
Tree Preservation Order (TPO)
A direction made by a local planning authority that makes it an offence to cut, top, lop, uproot or wilfully damage or destroy a tree without that authority's permission.
U
Unitary Development Plan (UDP)
The development plan providing the land use planning policy framework for the control of development across unitary local authorities and metropolitan districts, taking into account, where necessary, any relevant economic, social and other considerations. Urban Fringe
Predominantly open land on the edge of an existing urban area. It can provide a valuable resource for the provision of sport and recreation, particularly in situations where there is an absence of land within urban areas to meet provision.
Urban Regeneration
The re-use or redevelopment of decaying or run-down parts of older urban areas to bring them new life and economic vitality.
V
Village Envelope
Boundaries defined on a map beyond which the local planning authority proposes that a village should not be allowed to extend.
W
Wildlife Corridor
A continuous area facilitating the movement of wildlife through rural or urban environments. World Heritage Site
A cultural or natural site of outstanding universal value designated by the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
X
Y
Z
Disclaimer
This Glossary is neither a statement of law nor an interpretation of the law, and its status is only an introductory guide to planning issues and should not be used as a source for statutory definitions.
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