Glossary

This Glossary of terms is intended to act as a reference point for unfamiliar or technical terms included in the Local Plan. Unless stated these are not definitive or legal descriptions.

Affordable Housing
- housing which is available to people in housing need, who cannot afford to buy or rent housing available on the open market. They are usually provided and managed by Social Registered Landlords. A more detailed local definition of affordable housing is provided in policy SC9.
Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)
- The report prepared by the Council to assess the implementation of the Local Development Scheme and the extent to which the policies of the Local Development Framework are being achieved.
Amenity
- a pleasantness of place, a feature of a place that makes life there convenient or pleasant the extent to which people are able to enjoy public places and their own dwellings without undue pollution, disturbance or intrusion from nearby uses.
Ancient Woodlands
- land which has been continuously wooded since 1600. for at least the last 400 years. They These are an irreplaceable resource designated to protect unique plant and animal habitat diversity. They are scheduled by English Nature Natural England.
Areas of Restraint
- designated open land within and around urban areas that helps to define the structure and character of urban areas and protects open wedges of land within towns, between towns and surrounding villages.
Area of Search
- A broad area within which particular development may be acceptable subject to detailed considerations.
Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land
- Land identified by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as falling within classification grades 1, 2 or 3a, based on the physical characteristics of the land and the limits these impose upon its agricultural uses.
Biodiversity
- The whole variety of life encompassing all genetics, species and ecosystem variations including plants and animals.
Brownfield Land
- see the definition of previously developed land below.
Circular
- sets out government policy on a particular issue, providing guidance and practical advice to local authorities on how to achieve these objectives.
Code System Operators
- companies with licenses to install and maintain telecommunications.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
- an efficient technology for generating electricity and heat together. A CHP plant is an installation where there is simultaneous generation of usable heat and power (usually electricity) in a single process. The heat generated in the process is utilised via suitable heat recovery equipment for a variety of purposes including industrial processes and community heating.
Community Plan
- a plan prepared by a partnership of local organisations, agencies and interest groups, including the local authorities, that sets out key social, economic and environmental objectives for the community. Warwick District Community Plan is the Community Strategy for the District under the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000. Details of the Warwick District Community Plan are set out in the introduction to the Local Plan.
Corporate Strategy
- sets out the overall corporate vision of the council. The present Warwick District Council Corporate Strategy covers the period 2003 to 2007 and includes a series of environmental, economic and social aims and objectives. Further information about the Council's Corporate Strategy is set out in the introduction to the Local Plan.
Comparison Shopping
- The provision of retail goods not obtained on a frequent basis i.e. televisions, carpets.
Conservation Area
- means specifically designated areas of architectural or historic interest the character of which it is important to maintain or enhance.
Convenience Shopping
- the provision of everyday essential items such as food.
County Council
- Warwickshire County Council is currently the strategic planning authority for Warwickshire and is responsible for the Structure Plan and the Waste and Minerals Local Plans.
Density
- is a measure of the number of dwellings per hectare (ha)
Deposit Draft Local Plan
- the version of the local plan which is subject to public consultation. The introduction to the Local Plan details the various stages that a local plan must go through before becoming adopted as part of the Development Plan for the district.
Development Brief
- a detailed planning document relating to a specific site or area which provides detailed guidance on the nature and form of the type of development that may take place there. Development Briefs use the Local Plan as a first point of reference with which to build upon and create a document with a greater level of detail, which is usually adopted as a Supplementary Planning guidance Document.
Development Plan Documents (DPDs)
- These are spatial planning documents that have been subject to independent assessment and which, together with the Regional Spatial Strategy, form the Development Plan for the area. They will eventually supersede local plans.
Development Plan
- The collective term given to all relevant statutory documents that provide the basis for determining planning policy within an area. The Development Plan for Warwick District comprises of the West Midlands Regional Planning Guidance, the Warwickshire Structure Plan and the Local Plan.
Diversity
- means to introduce variety, which adds and enhances to the quality of life for local residents.
Ecosites
- current system operated by Warwickshire Museum Field Services to identify sites of acknowledged nature conservation value. This includes the location of approximately 2,800 statutory and non statutory sites (Ecosites) within Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. Each site contains information on flora, fauna and habitat descriptions and is being used to enable the identification of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation.
Farm Diversification
- the development of farm-based, non agricultural activities to support farming incomes.
Geodiversity
- the variety of rocks, fossils, minerals and natural processes.
Geomorphology
- the study of natural landforms.
Green Belt
- land allocated within the Development Plan for a district to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open. Guidance on Green Belt policy is contained in PPG 2. The Warwickshire Structure Plan identifies the broad extent of Green Belt within Warwick District and the Local Plan defines detailed boundaries of Green Belt land.
Greenfield Land
- undeveloped or vacant land not included in the definition of previously developed land, as set out below
Green Paper
- a paper prepared by Government for discussion/consultation purposes. A Green Paper is usually followed by a White Paper that then forms the basis of a bill to be presented to Parliament.
Habitat Biodiversity Audit (HBA)
- an audit providing accurate, up-to-date and readily accessible ecological data showing the location of statutory and non-statutory designated sites. Information is contained on approximately 2,400 sites (Ecosites) within Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, which include woods, meadows, marshes, rivers, disused railway lines and canals places seen as of particular importance for nature conservation. Each site file contains information on flora, fauna and habitat descriptions. The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust works with local authorities county wide to prepare the HBA refers to the partnership project launched in 1995 to provide up to date readily accessible ecological data across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull.
Historic Landscape Designation
- a programme involving desk based mapping and analysis of the historical and cultural origins and development of the present landscape to inform understanding and management of the historic landscape resource.
Home Working
- initiative whereby individuals work from home. Policies that encourage home working recognise the specially when related to the use of ICT, spending less time travelling, therefore encouraging sustainability and an improved quality of life. Home Working can lead to increased sustainability and an improved quality of life as less time is spent travelling to work. It is particularly suited to work which includes high levels of ICT use.
Housing Corporation
- non-departmental public body responsible for registering, regulating and funding registered social landlords in the provision of affordable housing.
Housing Strategy
- a framework to monitor and identify housing need within the district and deliver a supply of housing in partnership with the Housing Corporation and developers.
Inset Plan
- A map covering a small part of the wider proposals map.
International Commission on Non-Ionised Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
- A body of independent scientific experts that addresses the issues of possible adverse effects on human health of exposure to non-ionising radiation. The ICNIRP has published guidelines on limiting exposure to radio waves which has helped the government to develop its planning policy on telecommunications.
Limited Growth Villages
- identified villages within the District where some limited growth is accepted. The villages are identified in policy RAP2.
Listed Buildings
- relates to buildings which are designated for their architectural or historic interest, by the Department of Media, Culture and Sport upon the advice of English Heritage English Nature, and are statutorily protected to ensure their protection.
Liveability
- refers to quality of life experienced within a particular area. Development should be efficient and well designed to create sustainable communities as attractive places to live and work.
Local Biodiversity Action Plan
- partnership project providing the local response to address national and local biodiversity targets and objectives. Individual action plans are being produced for key habitats and species which are found locally.
Local Development Documents (LDDs)
- The collective name given to all Development Plan Documents, Supplementary Planning Documents and the Statement of Community Involvement. The role of LDDs is to set out the spatial strategy and planning policies for a district.
Local Development Framework (LDF)
- A portfolio of all Local Development Documents and therefore all planning policies which apply within a district. It also includes the Annual Monitoring Report and the Local Development Scheme.
Local Development Scheme (LDS)
- The project plan detailing the timescale for the preparation of Local Development Documents. Warwickshire County Council is required to produce a Minerals and Waste Scheme.
Local Geodiversity Action Plan
- action plan undertaken at a county wide level to enable local geological and geomorphological conservation.
Local Nature Reserves (LNRs)
- relates to land of local significance, designated and conserved for its wildlife interest by local authorities in consultation with English Nature Natural England. There are 800 LNR sites in England covering an area of 29,000 Hectares.
Local Plan
- is a land use document which regulates the development and use of land in the public interest. The aim of a local plan is to reconcile the demand for development and the protection and enhancement of the environment, social well-being and economic vitality. Local Plans forms part of the Development Plan and they are prepared by District Councils. Proposals should be in conformity with the strategic policies set in the Structure Plan.
Local Transport Plans
- a five year integrated transport strategy strategic planning document setting out the aims, objectives and policies for achieving more sustainable and integrated transport. Local Transport Plans are prepared for the whole county area.
Market Housing
- housing either bought or rented on the open market without the involvement of any registered social landlord.
Material Planning Consideration
- an issue which may legitimately be taken into account when deciding a planning application or in an appeal against a planning decision.
Mixed Use Development
- development that incorporates a range and variety of uses within a single development site, for example, retail, residential and business.
Park and Ride
- an initiative whereby car parking areas are provided at the edge an urban/built up area and frequent public transport is provided linking this to the town centres or other foci of travel demand.
Passive Solar Gain
- an energy efficient method of designing buildings to maximise the potential to collect ambient heat and light from the sun's rays. The site layout (orientation, landscaping and the location of a building on a slope) and the design of a building, for example to maximise windows facing south and minimise the amount of windows facing north, efficient building insulation and triple glazed windows can all contribute to maximising passive solar gain.
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act
- This is the Act of Parliament which introduced the legislation associated with the new planning system in 2004.
Planning Conditions
- are a method to control development and can only be imposed on planning permissions where there is a clear land use planning justification for doing so and the Planning Authority is required to give clear, full and precise reasons for any conditions imposed. A test of a legitimate condition is if the proposal may have been refused without it.
Plan, Monitor, Manage (PMM)
- Approach to housing provision involving the following stages:
  • Plan for an overall annual rate and distribution of housing;
  • Monitor provision against targets and indicators; and
  • Manage the process.
Planning Obligations
- are often sought at the time of the determination of a planning application by an applicant to provide community and/or infrastructural benefits. They are usually secured via a legal (section 106) agreement.
Planning Policy Guidance (PPG)
- Government guidance covering a wide range of planning issues which advises on the role and function of the planning system. Local Authorities must take the guidance into consideration when producing a local plan and determining planning applications. Through the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act these are now gradually being replaced by Planning Policy Statements (PPS's).
Previously Developed Land (PDL)
- land which was or is occupied by a permanent structure including the curtilage of the development (excluding It excludes agricultural or forestry buildings and land which has been previously developed but where there is a clear reason not to re-use the site such as its contribution to nature conservation). PDL is often referred to as "brown field" land. A full definition is available in PPG3 Annex C.
Proposals Map
- a map which identifies the location of any geographically specific policies and proposals within the local plan. The proposals map forms part of the local plan and should be read alongside the written statement.
Public Transport Corridors
- corridor specifically identified as quality bus corridors in the Local Transport Plan (LTP). Along these corridors, Warwickshire County Council is committed to upgrading services.
Public Transport Interchanges
- refers to sites within the public transport network such as rail stations and bus focal points which allow access to public transport. The Warwickshire Local Transport Plan outlines measures to protect and improve public transport interchanges by 2006.
Regional Planning Guidance (RPG)
- is prepared at a regional level and adopted by the Secretary of State and sets the framework for development plans in the region. The West Midlands is covered by RPG11. Through the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act this document has the status of Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and is a formal part of the development plan.
Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological sites
- A non-statutory geological or geomorphological site considered worthy of protection due to regional, educational, scientific, historical or aesthetic importance.
Registered Parks and Gardens
- parks and gardens which appear on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest compiled by English Heritage.
Registered Social Landlord (RSL)
- term introduced in the Housing Act 1996 to describe local housing companies and housing associations which are registered and monitored by the Housing Corporation.
Renewable Energy
- sources of energy which are reusable and sustainable such as wind, water, sun, wave, refuse and geothermal energy. These sources do not produce the harmful emissions often associated with fossil fuels. Energy flows that occur naturally and repeatedly in the environment (e.g. from sun, wind or wave or fall of water). Plant and some waste materials are also potential sources.
Retail Study
- Warwick District Council commissioned a Retail Study in 2002 to investigate the viability and economic prospects of the three town centres in the District. Further work was commissioned in 2004 to provide a better understanding of the retail floorspace requirements within the District. More details of this study are contained in the "context" section of Chapter 7 of the Local Plan.
Rural Enterprise
- A rural business which depends upon, or supports, the rural environment or a rural community.
Scheduled Ancient Monument
- means a feature a site of archaeological or historical interest which is statutorily protected in order to ensure its preservation. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 imposes stringent controls on works affecting these monuments.
Section 106 Agreement
- a legal agreement that ensures development provides an appropriate range of community and infrastructural benefits, relating to the requirements of the planning permission. Section 106 agreements are the principle means of securing planning obligations.
Sensory Receptors
- features prone to damage from pollution e.g. land, the use of other land public health, controlled waters, general amenity and the natural environment.
Sequential Approach
- a means of determining the most appropriate locations for various types of development. Sites can be assessed, measured and, if necessary, ranked against a range of criteria to determine the optimum location. The sequential approach is defined in relation to different types of development in PPG3 (housing) and PPG6 (retail development).
Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs)
- defined areas of ecological importance identified to protect habitat and species diversity. SINC`s are identified as part of the Warwickshire-wide Habitat Biodiversity Audit defined areas of ecological or geological importance identified to protect habitat and species diversity. These sites are currently being identified as part of the county wide Wildlife Sites project and include sites of geological value referred to as Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological sites.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
- relates to specifically defined areas where protection is afforded to sites of national wildlife or geological interest. English Nature Natural England is responsible for identifying and protecting approximately 4,100 SSSIs in England. Their protection has increased over the years, but is not fool-proof and is subject to changing Government regulations.
Special Landscape Areas
- areas of land of high landscape quality designated for protection from inappropriate forms of development by the Warwickshire Structure Plan.
Sport England
- the national body responsible for the strategic lead of sport in England, delivering the government's sporting objectives, developing a framework for the country's sporting infrastructure and distributing lottery funding to sporting projects across the country.
Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)
- A statement setting out the standards which local authorities will achieve in involving local communities in producing Local Development Documents and planning applications.
Structure Plan
- the document setting the strategic planning framework within which local plans must be prepared. Structure Plans form part of the development plan for each district and Local Plans must be in conformity with this document. Warwickshire County Council adopted the latest version of the Structure Plan in 2001.
Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
- These provide supplementary information on specific policies in DPDs. They are not subject to independent examination and do not have development plan status. These replace Supplementary Planning Guidance (see below).
Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG)
- additional planning guidance which is prepared by local planning authorities to provide detailed and specific guidance for developers to supplement statutory policies. Supplementary planning guidance may take the form of development briefs on particular sites or may cover a particular issue or topic relevant across the district.
Surface Water Drainage
- drainage systems created to deal with the efficient disposal of rainwater that falls on a proposed development site.
Sustainability Appraisal
- a formal, systematic process evaluating the social, economic and environmental impacts of policies, plans or programmes incorporating the requirements of EC Directive 2001/42/EC.
Sustainable Development
- a generic term given to development which meets local demand needs whilst minimising harmful social, economic, and environmental impacts. The widely used definition There are numerous definitions of sustainable development, however the definition quoted by The World Commission on Environment and Development in Brundtland 1987 states, 'development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'. is often used. The Government has set up four aims for sustainable development which are referred to within the 'Aims' of the Core Strategy.
Sustainable Waste Management
- The process by which waste is dealt with according to a waste hierarchy. Wherever possible, waste should be minimised. If waste cannot be avoided, it should be re-used; after this, the value should be recovered by recycling, composting or "waste to energy" processes; and finally landfill disposal.
Telecommunications
- a wide range of communication technology and services such as radio masts and towers, antennas, radio equipment, public call boxes, cabinet's poles and overhead wires.
Travel Plans
- a package of measures which aim to monitor and reduce motor car reliance along given routes or destinations through initiatives such as car sharing, promoting the use of public transport and encouraging walking and cycling.
Windfalls or Windfall Sites
- sites that come forward for development that have not been specifically identified as available for development within the local plan.
Unitary Development Plans
- development plans prepared by metropolitan district councils under Part ll of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (section12), as amended. UDPs contain policies and proposals for the physical land use development of a specified area, taking into consideration any potential environmental, social and economic impacts.
Urban Capacity Study
- a study of land and buildings within an urban area to assess its potential to be developed and/or redeveloped for alternative uses. Warwick District Council produced an urban capacity study in July 2002.
Use Classes Order
- A statutory instrument within the town and country planning system, which sets out categories of uses to clarify when planning permission is not required for the development of land, including the making of a material change in the use of any buildings or other land. Changes within the classes do not normally need permission, whereas changes between the classes normally do.
Viability
- to be capable of existing /surviving successfully. The term is often used with reference to in the context of whether town centres are able to exist as viable retail areas.
Vitality
- used to describe the liveliness of an area, which may be measured by particular local features, the general environment or the quality of life for local residents. In the context of town centres this term can be used to describe the capacity of a centre to grow or develop.

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