Bath & North East Somerset Local Plan
Deposit Draft January 2002

Glossary

A1/A2/A3 Uses

A1 refers to shops. A2 refers to Financial and Professional Services such as bank and building societies. A3 refers to use for the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises or hot food take-aways. The terms are drawn from the Town and Country Planning Use Classes Order 1987.

Affordable Housing

a) For Large Allocated or Windfall Sites

The range of both subsidised and market housing that will be available for those whose incomes generally deny them the opportunity to purchase or rent houses on the open market as a result of the local relationship between income and market price.

b) For Rural Exceptions Sites

Housing provided with subsidy for people who are unable to resolve their housing needs in the private sector market because of the local relationship between housing costs and incomes.

Aggregates

Sand, gravel, crushed rock and other bulk materials which are suitable for use in the construction industry as concrete, mortar, finishes or roadstone or for use as a constructional fill or railway ballast.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

An area of particularly attractive landscape and unspoilt character which should be protected and enhanced as part of the national heritage. It is designated by the Countryside Commission under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

B1/B2/B8 Uses

B1 refers to "Business" uses. These would include: office, research and development and industrial uses which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to amenity. B2 refers to general industrial uses and B8 to storage and distribution uses including warehousing. These terms are drawn from the Town and Country Planning Use Classes Order 1987.

Best Possible Environment Option (BPEO)

The option that provides the most benefits or the least damage for the environment, as a whole, at acceptable cost, in the long term as well as the short term. (Defined in the 12th report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution).

Biodiversity

The range of plant and animal species present in an area. It can refer to global, regional or local systems.

Brownfield Site

Sites which have been previously developed (see previously developed land).

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Comparison Goods

Generally, non-food goods which the purchaser will compare on the basis of price, quality and design offered before a purchase is made.

Conservation Area

An area of special architectural or historic interest identified by the Local Planning Authority under the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990. There is a statutory duty to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of such areas. Buildings in such areas are protected from unauthorised demolition in part or in full, and trees may not be felled or pruned without 6 weeks notice.

Convenience Goods

Generally, goods which are purchased regularly for relatively immediate consumption, such as food, drink and newspapers.

Design Statement

A document submitted with a planning application to explain the way in which design issues have influenced the proposal.

Development

"The carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material changes in the use of any building." (Town & Country Planning Act (1990) Part III Section 55).

Development Brief

Supplementary Planning Guidance providing more detailed guidance on the planning and development of a particular site.

Development Plan System

The system of Structure and Local Plans (or Unitary Development Plans) prepared by local authorities as a framework for development and land use decisions in their area.

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Environmental Impact Assessment

An assessment required to accompany planning applications for developments which are likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of their nature, size or location.

Green Belt

A planning designation designed to prevent urban sprawl by protecting land around or between urban areas from development which would detract from its open appearance.

Greenfield Site

Land which has not been previously used for urban development or other urban land uses, most often comprising land last used for agriculture and located outside existing built up areas of a settlement. (See also definition of previously used land).

Greenhouse Gases

The major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, largely from the burning of fossil fuels (including petrol) with some contribution from methane, nitrous oxides and CFCs. Increasing levels of greenhouse gases from non-natural sources are being produced. The build up of these gases in the upper atmosphere increases the planet's insulation and may cause global warming.

Gross Retail Floorspace

The total enclosed floor area of a store including space used for storage, handling goods, own production (e.g. bread baking) administration, staff rooms, lobbies, plant rooms, cloakrooms and amenity rooms.

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Historic Park and Garden

Parks and gardens included in a register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest prepared by English Heritage. Other parks and gardens are listed in the Avon Gazetteer

Household

A household comprises one person living alone, or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address with common housekeeping - that is, sharing either a living room or sitting room or at least one meal a day.

House in Multiple Occupancy

A house occupied by people who do not form a single household. This includes any purpose built or converted flat whose occupants do not form a single household.

Housing Development Boundary

The boundary which defines that part of certain settlements within which the principle of residential development will usually be acceptable subject to compliance with the policies of this Plan.

Infilling

The filling of small gaps within existing development e.g. the building of one or two houses on a small vacant plot in an otherwise extensively built up frontage. The plot will generally be surrounded on at least three sides by developed sites or roads.

Joint Strategic Planning and Transportation Unit (JSPTU)

The JSPTU is supported by the four Unitary Authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire and is responsible to a Joint Committee comprising Members from each of these authorities. The Unit is responsible, inter alia, for the preparation and review of the Structure Plan.

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Large Housing Site

A housing development site consisting of ten or more houses, or with an area of 0.5 hectare or more.

Listed Buildings

Buildings of special architectural or historic interest designated by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Planning Services should be consulted to determine whether Listed Building Consent in required (in addition to any possible need for planning permission) for any proposed alteration or demolition.

Local Transport Plan

This provides a clear statement of how the Council intends to deliver an integrated and sustainable transport system within a five year period. It also forms a bid to central government for funding to implement its proposals. The current Plan covers the period 2001-2006.

Major Existing Developed Sites

Green Belts contain some major developed sites such as factories, collieries, power stations, water and sewage treatment works, military establishments, civil airfields, hospitals, and research and education establishments. These substantial sites may be in continuing use or be redundant. If specifically identified in a Local Plan infilling or redevelopment may be acceptable.

Material Consideration

A factor which will be taken into account in reaching a decision on a planning application. It must have relevance to the purpose of planning legislation which is to regulate the development and use of land in the public interest.

Minerals Reserve

The quantity of mineral with planning permission for extraction. (footnote 1 from Chapter C4)

Mineral Resource

The quantity of economically and/or environmentally workable mineral available..
(footnote 1 from Chapter C4)

Mixed Use Development

Developments that include a mixture of more than one of the following: housing, employment, leisure, shopping and community facilities.

Multi Modal Study

A study examining the roles of different modes of transport along a transport corridor.

Net Retail Floorspace

Internal area used for selling and displaying goods and services. It includes floor area to which customers have access, counter space, checkout space, and window or other display space.

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Park and Ride

An arrangement whereby car users are encouraged to leave vehicles in car parks on the periphery of a town or city and complete the remainder of their journey by public transport.

Planning Obligation

A legal undertaking entered into in connection with a planning permission under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Such obligations may restrict development or use of land; require operations or activities to be carried out in, on, under or over the land; require the land to be used in any specified way; or require payments to be made to the planning authority either in a single sum or periodically. Planning obligations may be created by agreement or by unilateral undertakings on the part of the developer/owner of the land.

Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs)

PPGs are issued by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (in some cases jointly with other Government departments) and set out the national policy context for Structure and Local Plans. Plans are expected to take PPGs into account. A list of key PPGs appears in Section A of the Plan.

Precautionary Principle

Requires that where there are significant risks of damage to the environment or human health, precautionary action to limit the impacts is taken, even where scientific knowledge is incomplete.

Previously-developed Land

There are various definitions of previously-developed land in use. For the purposes of this Plan, such land is defined as set out in PPG3 Annex C:

"Previously-developed land is that which is or was occupied by a permanent structure (excluding agricultural and forestry buildings), and associated fixed surface infrastructure. The definition includes defence buildings and land used for mineral extraction and waste disposal where provision for the restoration has not been made through the development control procedures.

The definition excludes land and buildings that are currently in use for agricultural or forestry purposes, and land in built-up areas which has not been developed previously (e.g. parks, recreation grounds, and allotments - even though these areas may contain certain urban features such as paths, pavilions and other buildings). Also excluded is land that was previously developed but where the remains of any structure or activity have blended into the landscape in the process of time (to the extent that it can reasonably be considered as part of the natural surroundings), and where there is a clear reason that could outweigh the re-use of the site - such as its contribution to nature conservation - or it has subsequently been put to an amenity use and cannot be regarded as requiring redevelopment."

Principal Urban Area (PUA)

An urban area usually in excess of 50,000 population identified in Regional Planning Guidance.

Proximity Principle

The disposal of waste close to the point of generation.

Primary Aggregates

Virgin Materials obtained or produced from winning & working of minerals
(footnote 4 from Chapter C4)

Primary Shopping Frontage

Those parts of Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton shopping centres where existing A1 retail uses at ground floor level will be safeguarded.

Public Realm

All space to which the public has ready physical and visual access.

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Recycled Materials

Derived from construction and demolition wastes such as bricks and concrete
(footnote 3 from Chapter C4)

Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS)

Sites identified by local conservation groups as important for their geological or geomorphological interest but which are not of sufficient interest to justify statutory designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG 10)

Issued by the Government Office for the South West with advice from the Regional Assembly this contains matters of regional importance, which must be taken into account by Structure and Local Plans. The latest version covering the period to 2016 was issued in September 2001.

Review of Old Minerals Planning Permissions

Procedures under the Planning and Compensation Act 1990 and the Environment Act 1995 require old minerals planning consents to be registered and fresh schedules of planning conditions submitted for approval. Dormant sites where permissions have been registered cannot be worked until new conditions have been approved.(footnote 2 from Chapter C4)

Rural "Exceptions" Scheme

Small schemes for affordable housing which are allowed in rural areas where housing will not normally be permitted.

Safeguarded Land

A greenfield site not allocated for development but excluded from the Green Belt to provide for development needs beyond the Plan period.

Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM)

A site of national archaeological importance within which protection is afforded to the archaeological interest. Sites are designated by English Heritage.

Secondary Materials

Derived from mineral wastes - eg. the processed off - cuts from building stone production
(footnote 3 from Chapter C4)

Section 106

The section of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that provides for the creation of Planning Obligations' (defined above).

Sites and Monuments Record

A record of archaeological sites of local importance kept by the Council Archaeologist and available for inspection.

Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI)

Locally important wildlife or geological sites.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Site of national importance defined under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 by English Nature within which protection is afforded to ecological or geological features.

South West Regional Development Agency

One of the Agencies set up in 1998 by Government in each region with powers to co-ordinate and promote regeneration and encourage inward investment.

Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

A site designated under the EU Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora as of international importance. Candidate sites are those being considered for designation (cSAC).

Special Protection Area (SPA)

A site designated under Article 4 of EC Directive 19/409 as being of international importance for the conservation of rare and/or migratory wild birds. Potential sites are those being considered for designation.

Supplementary Planning Guidance

Planning Guidance which supplements the policies and proposals of the development plan, giving more detailed advice on a particular topic or site. It does not have the same status as a development plan but the local planning authority will take it into account as a material consideration.

Sustainable Development

Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and aspirations.

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Townscape

Those elements of the natural and built environment that together give urban areas their sense of identity and distinctiveness.

Traffic Management

Schemes to regulate traffic speeds alter road capacity or increase safety within the existing highway width. Includes traffic signals, bus priorities, parking controls, traffic calming, pedestrian crossings, one way systems, road closures etc.

Transport Assessment

A document submitted with a planning application which demonstrates how the proposal will comply with and assist the implementation of the Council's transport policies.

Travel Plan

A plan addressing initiatives to be taken to encourage the use of more sustainable modes of travel (usually undertaken by an employer or occupier of premises). It may be formally agreed in association with the granting of planning permission.

Urban Design

The relationship between buildings and the streets, squares, parks, waterways, and other spaces which make up the public domain; the nature and quality of the public domain itself; the relationship of one part of a village, town or city with other parts; and the patterns of movement and activity which are thereby established: in short, the complex relationships between all the elements of built and unbuilt space.

Village Buffer

An area outside the Green Belt where development will be strictly controlled to prevent the coalescence of settlements.

Village Design Statement

A study highlighting the special qualities and features that create particular local character of a settlement. Usually prepared by local communities and adopted by the local planning authority as Supplementary Planning Guidance and used to assess whether new development would be in keeping with a village's character and appearance.

Windfall Sites

Previously developed sites which come forward on an ad-hoc basis and are not identified either in local plans or through other formal planning policies.

World Heritage Site

A cultural or natural site designated by UNESCO as a place of outstanding universal value. These sites should be preserved as part of the World Heritage of mankind as a whole.

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