Glossary
Glossary for Cherwell Local Plan Review 2040
Accessible Green Space Standards
Model standards devised by Natural England for the provision of ‘natural’ greenspace, i.e. accessible areas that also provide Accessible Green Space Standards potential wildlife habitat. The model sets out that no person should live more than 300m from their nearest area of natural greenspace of at least 2 hectares in size; that there should be at least one accessible 20 hectares site within 2km of home; that there should be one accessible 100 hectares site within 5km of home; and that there should be one accessible 500 hectares site within 10km of home.
Access to Natural Greenspace Standard (ANGSt)
ANGSt is a tool in assessing current levels of accessible natural greenspace, and planning for better provision. The three underlying principles of ANGSt are: a) Improving access to greenspaces b) Improving naturalness of greenspaces c) Improving connectivity with greenspaces ANGST sets a maximum recommended standard on walking distance people should have to travel to have access to accessible natural greenspace.
Active travel
‘Active travel’ (or active transportation or mobility) means walking or cycling as an alternative to motorised transport (notably cars, motorbikes/mopeds etc) for the purpose of making everyday journeys.
Adoption
The approval, after independent examination, of the final version of a Local Plan by a local planning authority for future planning policy and decision making.
Affordable Housing
Housing for sale or rent, for those whose needs are not met by the market (including housing that provides a subsidised route to home ownership and/or is for essential local workers).
Air Quality Management Area
The monitoring locations for Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) are chosen to target areas where air pollution is expected to be high, areas where members of the public spend an hour or more near busy roads, and areas that represent a background level that is not impacted by road traffic or industrial sources. These monitoring locations give us a picture of the air pollution levels across the Borough.
Ancient Monument
Any scheduled monument, or any other monument, which in the opinion of the Secretary of State, is of public interest by reason of the historic, architectural, artistic or archaeological interest attributed to it.
Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)
A report produced at least annually assessing progress of the LDS and the extent to which policies in Local Development Documents are being successfully implemented.
Appropriate Assessment
A process required by European Directives (Birds Directive 79/409/EEC and Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC) to avoid adverse effects of plans, programmes and projects on Natura 2000 sites and thereby maintain the integrity of the Natura 2000 network and its features.
Archaeological interest
There will be archaeological interest in a heritage asset if it holds, or potentially holds, evidence of past human activity worthy of expert investigation at some point.
Area Action Plan (AAP)
A type of Development Plan Document focused upon an area which will be subject to significant change.
Article 4 Direction
These are a means by which a local planning authority (LPA) can bring within planning control certain types of development, or changes of use, which would normally be permitted development (i.e. not require an application for planning permission).
Better Broadband for Oxfordshire Project
Better Broadband for Oxfordshire is a £25m project to bring fibre broadband to over 90 per cent of homes and businesses in the county by the end of 2015. It is a collaboration between Oxfordshire County Council, the Government (through BDUK) and BT that will boost the local economy by creating and protecting jobs.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is seen as the total complexity of all life, including not only the great variety of organisms, but also their varying behaviour and interactions.
Biodiversity net gain
Biodiversity Net Gain is an approach to development that leaves biodiversity in a better state than before. Where a development has an impact on biodiversity it encourages developers to provide an increase in appropriate natural habitat and ecological features over and above that being affected in such a way it is hoped that the current loss of biodiversity through development will be halted and ecological networks can be restored.
Blue infrastructure
Blue infrastructure refers to water elements, like rivers, canals, ponds, wetlands, floodplains and water treatment facilities.
BREEAM
This is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It recognises and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment.
Brexit
Brexit refers to the withdrawal process of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU).
Building Regulations
Building regulations are minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to virtually every building. The regulations are developed by the UK government and approved by Parliament.
Carbon sequestration
Often referred to as carbon dioxide removal, this is the long term removal, capture or sequestration of greenhouse gasses, particularly carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow or reverse atmospheric CO2 pollution and to mitigate or reverse global warming. In practice this could be through the storage of carbon in plants, soils, geologic formations, and the ocean. The most effective way for achieving this in Eastleigh Borough is through the absorption of CO2 by trees and other vegetation.
Climate Change
The lasting and significant change in weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to hundreds of years, impacting on river and sea levels and the rate of flows on watercourses.
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Climate change adaptation: Adjustments to natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic factors or their effects, including from changes in rainfall and rising temperatures, which moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.
Climate change mitigation: Action to reduce the impact of human activity on the climate system, primarily through reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Code for Sustainable Homes
Provides a comprehensive measure of sustainability of a new home by rating and certifying new homes against nine categories of sustainable design: energy/CO2, pollution, water, health and well-being, materials, management, surface water run-off, ecology and waste. The Government has announced its intention to wind down the code and include its element in Building Regulations.
Community Forest
An area identified through the England Community Forest Programme to revitalise countryside and green space in and around major conurbations.
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
A levy allowing local authorities to raise funds from owners or developers of land undertaking new building projects in their area.
Community Right to Build Order
An Order made by the local planning authority (under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) that grants planning permission for a site-specific development proposal or classes of development.
Comparison retail
Retail items not bought on a frequent basis, for example televisions and white goods (fridges, dishwashers etc).
Conservation Area
An area designated by the District Council under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character or appearance of which is desirable to preserve or enhance. There are additional controls over demolition, minor developments and the felling of trees.
Conservation Target Areas (CTA)
These are county-wide important areas of landscape that present the best opportunities for prioritising the conservation, enhancement and re-creation of designated sites and important habitats.
Consultation
A process by which people and organisations are asked their views about planning decisions, including the Local Plan.
Convenience retail
The provision of everyday essential items, such as food.
Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000
Provides for public access on foot to certain types of land, amends the law relating to public rights of way. It also places a duty on local authorities to produce management plans for each AONB and to have regard to the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the AONBs when performing their functions.
Decentralised Energy
Local renewable energy and local low-carbon energy usually, but not always, on a relatively small scale encompassing a diverse range of technologies.
Deliverability
To be considered deliverable sites should be available now, offer a suitable location for development now and be achievable with a realistic prospect that housing will be delivered on the site within five years and, in particular, that the site is viable.
Designated Heritage Asset
A World Heritage Site, Scheduled Monument, Listed Building, Protected Wreck Site, Registered Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefield or Conservation Area designated under the relevant legislation.
Design code
A set of illustrated design requirements that provide specific, detailed parameters for the physical development of a site or area. The graphic and written components of the code should build upon a design vision, such as a masterplan or other design and development framework for a site or area.
Design guide
A document providing guidance on how development can be carried out in accordance with good design practice, often produced by a local authority.
Design and Access Statement
A report accompanying and supporting a planning application as required by the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010 as amended. They provide a framework for applicants to explain how a proposed development is a suitable response to the site and its setting, and demonstrate that it can be adequately accessed by prospective users.
Development Plan
The statutory term used to refer to the adopted spatial plans and policies that apply to a particular local planning authority area. This includes adopted Local Plans (including Minerals and Waste Plans) and Neighbourhood Development Plans and is defined by Section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Development Plan Documents (DPDs)
Documents which make up the Local Plan. All DPDs are subject to public consultation and independent examination.
Duty to Cooperate
A statutory duty placed on public bodies to cooperate constructively, actively and on an on-going basis to maximise the effectiveness of Local Plan preparation in the context of strategic cross boundary matters.
Eco-innovation hub
A ‘green technology’ cluster of environmental goods and services businesses.
Embodied Energy
The energy bound up in making a building’s materials, transporting them to the site and constructing the building.
Employment Land
A designation that has defined boundaries and is used to safeguard areas in the district for employment uses, both existing and proposed, as designated by the Local Plan or a Neighbourhood Development Plan.
Employment Land Review (ELR)
An evidence base study to assess the quantity, quality and viability of the district’s employment land supply and forecast the future demand for employment land over the next planning period.
Employment uses
Commercial, Business and Service uses as defined in Class E of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020.
Evidence Base
The information and data collated by local authorities to support the policy approach set out in the Local Plan.
Examination
The process by which an independent Planning Inspector considers whether a Development Plan Document is ‘sound’ before it can be adopted.
Exception Test
The Exception Test provides a method of managing flood risk while still allowing necessary development to occur. The Exception Test is only appropriate for use when there are large areas in Flood Zones 2 and 3, where the Sequential Test alone cannot deliver acceptable sites, but where some continuing development is necessary for wider sustainable development reasons, taking into account the need to avoid social or economic blight.
Extra Care Housing
Extra Care Housing is a type of self-contained housing that offers care and support that falls somewhere between traditional sheltered housing and residential care.
Five Year Housing Land Supply
Paragraph 74 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires local planning authorities to identify and update annually a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years’ worth of housing against their housing requirements with an additional buffer of 5% to 20% (moved forward from later in the plan period) to ensure choice and competition in the market for land.
Flood and Water Management Act 2010
An Act to make provision about water, including provision about the management of risks in connection with flooding and coastal erosion. The Act makes County Councils responsible for leading the coordination of flood risk management in the area as the Lead Local Flood Authority.
Flood Zone 1: Land having a less than 1 in 1,000 annual probability of river or sea flooding. This is the zone at lowest flood risk.
Flood Zone 2: Land having between a 1 in 100 and 1 in 1,000 annual probability of river flooding; or Land having between a 1 in 200 and 1 in 1,000 annual probability of sea flooding.
Flood Zone 3/Flood Zone 3a: Land having a 1 in 100 or greater annual probability of river flooding; or Land having a 1 in 200 or greater annual probability of sea flooding. This is the zone at the highest flood risk.
Flood Zone 3b: This zone comprises land where water has to flow or be stored in times of flood. Local planning authorities should identify in their Strategic Flood Risk Assessments areas of functional floodplain and its boundaries accordingly, in agreement with the Environment Agency.
Geodiversity
The range of rocks, minerals, fossils, soils and landforms.
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.
Green Corridors
Green spaces that provide avenues for wildlife movement, often along streams, rivers or other natural features. They often provide pleasant walks for the public away from main roads.
Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure includes sites protected for their importance to wildlife or the environment, nature reserves, greenspaces and greenway linkages. Together they provide a network of green space both urban and rural, providing a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits.
Gypsies and Traveller
Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependant’s educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excluding members of an organised group of travelling show people or circus people travelling together as such.
Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA)
HRA is required under the European Directive 92/43/ECC on the “conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora for plans” that Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA) may have an impact of European (Natura 2000) Sites. HRA is an assessment of the impacts of implementing a plan or policy on a Natura 2000 Site.
Habitats site
Any site which would be included within the definition at regulation 8 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 for the purpose of those regulations, including candidate Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Community Importance, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and any relevant Marine Sites.
Hazardous substance
Any material that has the intrinsic nature of being toxic, explosive, prone to ignite, radioactive, corrosive or otherwise detrimental to human, animal and/or environmental health.
Historic Environment Record
Information services that seek to provide access to comprehensive and dynamic resources relating to the historic environment of a defined geographic area for public benefit and use. Oxfordshire County Council hold the Historic Environment Record for the County.
Housing Market Area
A housing market area is a geographical area defined by household demand and preferences for all types of housing, reflecting the key functional linkages between places where people live and work Housing Need The quantity of housing required for households who are unable to access suitable housing without financial assistance.
Housing Need Assessment (HNA)
An assessment of housing need and affordable housing need.
Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)
An indicative measure of deprivation for small areas across England.
Infilling
The filling of a small gap in an otherwise built up frontage or on other sites within settlements where the site is closely surrounded by buildings.
Infrastructure
All the ancillary works and services which are necessary to support human activities, including roads, sewers, schools, hospitals, and services and facilities etc.
Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP)
The IDP’s role is to identify all items of infrastructure needed to ensure the delivery of the growth targets and policies contained in the Local Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) Plan. This ensures that an appropriate supply of essential infrastructure is provided alongside new homes, workplaces and other forms of development.
Intermediate Affordable Housing
Housing at prices and rents above those of social rent, but below market price or rents. These can include shared equity products and other low cost homes for sale or rent.
International, national and locally designated sites of importance for biodiversity
All international sites (Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, and Ramsar sites), national sites (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and locally designated sites including Local Wildlife Sites.
LAP
Local Area for Play
Large sites
Defined as 10 or more dwellings (net gain) and at least 1,000m2 of floorspace (or net gain).
Larger Village
Larger Villages are defined as settlements with a more limited range of employment, services and facilities, where unallocated development will be limited to providing for local needs and to support employment, services and facilities within local communities.
LEAP
Local Equipped Area for Play
Lifetime Homes Standards
Incorporates 16 design criteria that can be universally applied to new homes at minimal cost. Each design feature adds to the comfort and convenience of the home and supports the changing needs of individuals and families at different stages of life.
Listed Building
Buildings and structures which are listed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are being of special architectural and historic interest and whose protection and maintenance are the subject of special legislation.
Local Development Documents (LDDs)
The collective term for Development Plan Documents, Supplementary Planning Documents and other documents containing statements relating to planning policy and the development and use of land.
Local Development Order (LDO)
An Order made by a local planning authority (under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) that grants planning permission for a specific development proposal or classes of development.
Local Development Scheme (LDS)
A Local Development Scheme is a statutory document required to specify (among other matters) the documents which, when prepared, will comprise the Local Plan for the area. It sets out the programme for the preparation of these documents.
Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
A body, designated by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, established for the purpose of creating or improving the conditions for economic growth in an area.
Local Nature Reserves (LNRs)
Areas of natural heritage that are at least locally important.
Local Plan
The plan for the local area which sets out the long-term spatial vision and development framework for the District and strategic policies and proposals to deliver that vision.
Local Service Centre
Local Service Centres are defined as Larger Villages or neighbourhoods of larger settlements with a level of facilities and services and local employment to provide the next best opportunities for sustainable development outside the Market Towns.
Local Strategic Partnership (LSP)
A group of people and organisations from the local community including from public, private, community and voluntary sectors within a local authority area, with the objective of improving the quality of life of the local community.
Local Transport Plan (LTP)
A transport strategy prepared by the local highways authority (the County Council).
Localism Act 2011
The Localism Act introduced changes to the planning system (amongst other changes to local government) including making provision for the revocation of Regional Spatial Strategies, introducing the Duty to Cooperate and Neighbourhood Planning.
Major Development (Large-Scale)
A Large-Scale Major Development is one where the number of residential dwellings to be constructed is 200 or more or 1,000m2 of industrial, commercial or retail floor space. Where the number of residential dwellings or floor space to be constructed is not given in the application a site area of 4 hectares or more should be used as the definition of a major development. For all other uses a large-scale major development is one where the floorspace to be built is more than 10,000m2, or where the site area is more than 2 hectares. The definition for major development in the AONB differs.
Major Development (Small-Scale)
A Small-Scale Major Development is one where the number of residential dwellings to be constructed is between 10 and 199 inclusive. Where the number of dwellings to be constructed is not given in the application a site area of between 0.5 hectares and less than 4 hectare should be used as the definition of a small-scale major development. For all other uses a small-scale major development is one where the floorspace to be built is between 1,000m2 and 9,999m2 or where the site area is between 1 hectare and less than 2 hectares. The definition for major development in the AONB differs.
Market Town
Market Towns are defined as settlements that have the ability to support the most sustainable patterns of living within Cherwell through their current levels of facilities, services and employment opportunities.
Material Consideration
This is a matter that should be taken into account in deciding a planning application or on an appeal against a planning decision. This can include issues such as overlooking/loss of privacy, parking, noise, effect on listed building and conservation area, or effect on nature conservation etc.
Minerals resources of local and national importance
Minerals which are necessary to meet society’s needs, including aggregates, brickclay (especially Etruria Marl and fireclay), silica sand (including high grade silica sands), coal derived fly ash in single use deposits, cement raw materials, gypsum, salt, fluorspar, shallow and deep-mined coal, oil and gas (including conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons), tungsten, kaolin, ball clay, potash, polyhalite and local minerals of importance to heritage assets and local distinctiveness.
MUGA
Multi-Use Games Area
National Landscape
Areas of National Landscape designations are defined by a set of special qualities which contribute to the areas outstanding scenic quality and underpin the necessity for their designation. A small area of the Cotswolds National Landscape falls within the District.
National Planning Policy (NPPF)
This sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied at a local level. The NPPF is a material consideration when deciding on planning applications or appeals.
National Nature Reserves
National Nature Reserves (NNRs) were established to protect some of our most important habitats, species and geology, and to provide ‘outdoor laboratories’ for research.
National trails
Long distance routes for walking, cycling and horse riding.
Nature Recovery Network
An expanding, increasingly connected, network of wildlife rich habitats supporting species recovery, alongside wider benefits such as carbon capture, water quality improvements, natural flood risk management and recreation. It includes the existing network of protected sites and other wildlife rich habitats as well as and landscape or catchment scale recovery areas where there is coordinated action for species and habitats.
Natural Flood Management
Managing flood and coastal erosion risk by protecting, restoring and emulating the natural ‘regulating’ function of catchments, rivers, floodplains and coasts.
NEAP
Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play.
Neighbourhood Plans
A plan prepared by a Parish Council or Neighbourhood Forum for a particular neighbourhood area (made under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).
Non-designated Heritage Assets
These are buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas or landscapes identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions but which are not formally designated heritage assets. In some areas, local authorities identify some non-designated heritage assets as “locally listed”.
Non-strategic policies
Policies contained in a neighbourhood plan, or those policies in a local plan that are not strategic policies.
Out of town
A location out of centre that is outside the existing urban area.
Open space
All open space of public value, including not just land, but also areas of water (such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs) which offer important opportunities for sport and recreation and can act as a visual amenity.
Oxford/Cambridge corridor
A spatial concept focused on the economic influence of Oxford and Cambridge. The aim of this is to promote and accelerate the development of the unique set of educational, research and business assets and activities.
Oxfordshire City Deal
The Oxford and Oxfordshire City Deal sets out the actions the region will take to create new jobs, support research and businesses, and improve housing and transport.
Oxfordshire Statement of Cooperation
The Oxfordshire Statement of Cooperation outlines matters on which the six local authorities in Oxfordshire will continue to cooperate. In particular, the document sets out how the parties involved will manage the outcomes of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment, should any of the local planning authorities in Oxfordshire not be able to meet their full objectively assessed housing need.
Performance Engineering
Advanced manufacturing/high performance engineering encompass activities which are high in innovation and the application of leading edge technology, and which form a network of businesses which support, compete with and learn from each other.
Permission in principle
A form of planning consent which establishes that a site is suitable for a specified amount of housing-led development in principle. Following a grant of permission in principle, the site must receive a grant of technical details consent before development can proceed.
Planning condition
A condition imposed on a grant of planning permission (in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) or a condition included in a Local Development Order or Neighbourhood Development Order.
Planning obligation
A legal agreement entered into under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to mitigate the impacts of a development proposal.
Planning Practice Guidance (PPG)
The Government’s planning guidance supporting national planning policy.
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
This Act amended the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduced a new statutory system of regional and local planning and has since been amended by the Localism Act 2011.
Planning Inspectorate
The Government body responsible for providing independent inspectors for planning inquiries and for examinations of development plan documents.
Planning Policy Statement (PPS)
Formerly produced by central Government setting out national planning policy. These have been replaced by the NPPF.
Policies Map
Maps of the local planning authority’s area which must be reproduced from, or based on, an Ordnance Survey map; include an explanation of any symbol or notation which it uses; and illustrate geographically the application of the policies in the adopted development plan. Where the adopted policies map consists of text and maps, the text prevails if the map and text conflict.
Preferred Options
This is a non-statutory stage of consultation of the Local Plan setting out the preferred options for growth in the area, based on the findings of previous consultations. South Oxfordshire District Council chose to undertake a second iteration of Preferred Options consultation in Spring 2017.
Previously developed land or Brownfield land
Land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land (although it should not be assumed that the whole of the curtilage should be developed) and any associated fixed surface infrastructure. This excludes: land that is or has been occupied by agricultural or forestry buildings; land that has been developed for minerals extraction or waste disposal by landfill purposes where provision for restoration has been made through development control procedures; land in built-up areas such as private residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments; and land that was previously developed but where the remains of the permanent structure or fixed surface structure have blended into the landscape in the process of time.
Priority habitats and species
Species and Habitats of Principal Importance included in the England Biodiversity List published by the Secretary of State under section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.
Regeneration
The economic, social and environmental renewal and improvement of rural and urban areas.
Regulations
This means “The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended” unless indicated otherwise. Planning authorities must follow these when preparing Local Plans.
Renewable and low carbon energy
Includes energy for heating and cooling as well as generating electricity. Renewable energy covers those energy flows that occur naturally and repeatedly in the environment (wind, water, the movement of the oceans, sun and from biomass and deep geothermal heat. Low carbon technologies are those that can help reduce emissions.
River Basin Management Plan
River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) are drawn up for the 10 river basin districts in England and Wales as a requirement of the water framework directive. Cherwell District Council is covered within the Thames River Basin Management Plan (2015).
Rural exception sites
Small sites used for affordable housing in perpetuity where sites would not normally be used for housing. Rural exception sites seek to address the needs of the local community by accommodating households who are either current residents or have an existing family or employment connection.
Safeguarding zone
An area defined in Circular 01/03: Safeguarding aerodromes, technical sites and military explosives storage areas, to which specific safeguarding provisions apply.
Saved Policies
Policies in historic development plans that have been formally ‘saved’ and which continue to be used until replaced by a new Local Plan.
Section 106 Agreement
A legal agreement under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act. They are legal agreements between a planning authority and a developer, or undertakings offered unilaterally by a developer, that ensure that certain extra works related to a development are undertaken.
Self-build and custom-build housing
Housing built by an individual, a group of individuals, or persons working with or for them, to be occupied by that individual. Such housing can be either market or affordable housing. A legal definition, for the purpose of applying the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended), is contained in section 1(A1) and (A2) of that Act.
Sequential Test
A planning principle that seeks to identify, allocate or develop certain types of location of land before others. For example, brownfield housing sites before greenfield sites, or town centre retail sites before out of-centre sites. With regard to flood risk, it seeks to locate development in areas of lower flood risk (Flood Zone 1) before considering Flood Zones 2 or 3.
Setting of a heritage asset
The surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced. Its extent is not fixed and may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance or may be neutral.
Settlement Gap
Areas of predominantly undeveloped land between settlements that have been defined to protect the individual identity of those settlements and prevent their coalescence (the merging together of separate settlements to form one single settlement).
Settlement Hierarchy
A way of identifying and classifying settlements within the Vale and provides a guide to where development may be sustainable according to the role and function of the settlement.
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Sites designated by Natural England under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Site Specific Allocations
Site specific proposals for specific or mixed uses or development. Policies will identify any specific requirements for individual proposals.
Smaller Village
Smaller Villages have a low level of services and facilities, where any development should be modest in scale and primarily be to meet local needs.
South East Plan (SEP) (now revoked)
One of the former Regional Spatial Strategies revoked by Government. The South East Plan was approved in May 2009 and set out the long term spatial planning framework for the region for the years 2006-2026. It was revoked by the Government in March 2013 with the exception of two policies.
Spatial Strategy
The overview and overall approach to the provision of jobs, homes and infrastructure over the plan period.
Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
An area designated to protect the habitats of threatened species of wildlife under EU Directive 92/43.
Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)
The SCI sets out standards to be achieved by the local authority in relation to involving the community in the preparation, alteration and continuing review of all DPDs and in development management decisions. It is subject to independent examination. In respect of every DPD the local planning authority is required to publish a statement showing how it complied with the SCI.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
An assessment of the environmental effects of policies, plans and programmes, required by European legislation, which will be part of the public consultation on the policies.
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SRA)
An assessment carried out by local authorities to inform their knowledge of flooding, refine the information on the Flood Map and determine the variations in flood risk from all sources of flooding across and from their area.
Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA)
An assessment of the land capacity across the district with the potential for housing and employment.
Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA)
SHMAs are studies required by Government of local planning authorities to identify housing markets, and their characteristics, that straddle District boundaries. Their purpose is to inform Local Plans in terms of housing targets, housing need, demand, migration and commuting patterns and the development of planning and housing policy.
Strategic policies
Policies and site allocations which address strategic priorities in line with the requirements of Section 19 (1B-E) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Strategic Site
A broad location considered as having potential for significant development that contributes to achieving the Spatial Vision of an area.
Submission
The stage at which a Development Plan Document is sent to the Secretary of State for independent examination.
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs)
Documents which provide guidance to supplement the policies and proposals in Development Plan Documents.
Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS)
Sets an overall strategic direction and long-term vision for the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of an area.
Sustainable Development
A widely used definition drawn up by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. The NPPF taken as a whole constitutes the Government’s view of what sustainable development in England means in practice for the planning system.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
SuDS seek to manage surface water as close to the source as possible, mimicking surface water flows arising from a site prior to the proposed development. Typically SuDS involve a move away from piped systems to softer engineering solutions inspired by natural drainage processes.
Sustainable transport modes
Any efficient, safe and accessible means of transport with overall low impact on the environment, including walking and cycling, ultra low and zero emission vehicles, car sharing and public transport.
Sustainability Appraisal (SA)
The process of assessing the economic, social and environmental effects of a proposed plan. This process implements the requirements of the SEA Directive. Required to be undertaken for all DPDs.
Town centre
Area defined on the policies map, including the primary shopping area and areas predominantly occupied by main town centre uses within or adjacent to the primary shopping area. References to town centres or centres apply to city centres, town centres, district centres and local centres but exclude small parades of shops of purely neighbourhood significance.
Transport assessment
A comprehensive and systematic process that sets out transport issues relating to a proposed development. It identifies measures required to improve accessibility and safety for all modes of travel, particularly for alternatives to the car such as walking, cycling and public transport, and measures that will be needed deal with the anticipated transport impacts of the development.
Transport statement
A simplified version of a transport assessment where it is agreed the transport issues arising from development proposals are limited and a full transport assessment is not required.
Travel Plan
A long-term management strategy for an organisation or site that seeks to deliver sustainable transport objectives through action and is articulated in a document that is regularly reviewed.
Travelling Showpeople (Planning definition)
Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers as defined above.
Unallocated Sites
Unallocated sites are housing sites that come forward which are not allocated in the Development Plan. These include both greenfield land and previously developed land. Predicted delivery rates are based on past trends.
Valued landscape
Important local landscapes that contribute to the quality of the natural and local environment.
Watercourse
Main rivers, (larger rivers, brooks and streams) and ordinary watercourses (headwaters and smaller brooks and streams). Watercourses as defined in s72(1) Land Drainage Act 1991.
Wildlife corridor
Areas of habitat connecting wildlife populations.
Windfall sites
Unidentified sites that are approved for development.
Zero Carbon
A dwelling whose carbon footprint does not add to overall carbon emissions. However, the Government have stated that zero carbon will only apply to those carbon dioxide emissions that are covered by Building Regulations.