Planning Help Compaign to Protect Rural England

There is no simple definition of affordable housing, but it's generally thought to mean low-cost housing for rent, often from a housing association, to meet the needs of local people who cannot afford accommodation through the open market. It can be delivered through social renting, shared ownership or low-cost housing on the open market. Affordable housing usually involves some form of subsidy. In the case of affordable housing provided through planning obligations, much of the subsidy is provided by the developer. This is understood in terms of dwellings that have to be sold at a rate lower than what the developer would achieve on the open market.

Aggregates are crushed rock, sand and gravel used in the construction industry for materials such as concrete, roadstone and asphalt, or for use as constructional fill or railway ballast.

The pleasant or normally satisfactory aspects of a location which contribute to its overall character and the enjoyment of residents or visitors The Minister of Town and Country Planning in 1951 stated that 'anything ugly, dirty, noisy, crowded or uncomfortable may injure the interests of amenity'. Amenity is often a material consideration in planning decisions.

Each year, most authorities need to submit an annual progress report to Government detailing how the policies in the local transport plan are being implemented and transport funding used.

Under Section 6 (6) of the Planning Act 2008 the Secretary of State must carry out an 'appraisal of sustainability' of policies set out in a draft National Policy Statement, or an amendment to it, before adoption. Such an appraisal is distinct from Strategic Environmental Assessment, but the appraisal will incorporate SEA where it applies. It is also distinct from Sustainability Appraisal, which is carried out for lower level development plans.

A table which shows the appraisal of possible transport options against the Government's criteria for transport: environmental impact, safety, economy, accessibility and integration. They are produced by the proposer of a scheme, such as the Highways Agency or Highway Authority.

Plans for areas of change or conservation. Their purpose is to deliver planned growth, stimulate regeneration, protect areas sensitive to change through conservation policies, make proposals for enhancement and resolve conflicting objectives in areas where there is significant development pressure. Area action plans are development plan documents, which means they carry the full weight of the planning system in determining planning applications.

Areas identified in a local plan or local development framework as ones that the local authority expects to change, through, for example, development pressure or regeneration initiatives.

These were brought into being by the same legislation as National Parks - the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. They are fine landscapes, of great variety in character and extent. The primary objective of their designation is the conservation area's natural beauty, although many of them also fulfil a great recreational purpose. The Countryside Agency is responsible for designating AONBs in England and advising Government on policies for their protection. There are 36 in all, covering about 15% of England.

A direction under Article 4 of the The Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 that allows the secretary of state or local planning authority to require a planning application for development that would normally not need one because it would be covered by permitted development rights. Local planning authorities need the approval of the secretary of state in most cases.

See local authority, local planning authority, local waste authority, unitary authorities.

Brownfield land is another term for previously developed land, or land that contains or contained a permanent structure and associated infrastructure. Brownfield land occurs in rural and urban areas, but does not include agricultural or forestry land or buildings. The definition laid down in Government policy, which all local planning authorities should follow, is in Annex B of PPS3: Housing. Paragraphs 40-44 of PPS3 also calls on regional and local planning authorities to maximise the use of previously developed land, so that the Government brownfield housing target is met. See also Greenfield.

The brownfield target for new housing development is set out in the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Development. This target is for 60% of new or housing to be provided on brownfield land. Each regional planning body in England can, however, set its own target for reuse of brownfield land for housing, provided it contributes to meeting the national target (PPS3, paragraph 42). In practice this means the brownfield target for some English regions (such as the South West) is lower than the overall national target, whilst in others (such as the North West) the regional target is much higher.

Documents prepared by the Environment Agency which set out its vision for the future of individual river catchments. They contain an analysis of the issues affecting each catchment, such as water and sewerage infrastructure, waste disposal and flood plain planning, with programmes of work to achieve proposed solutions.

Can be issued by the local planning authority to describe the precise use, operation or building works on a site which is considered permissible without the need to apply for planning permission. Whether the development is lawful is defined in legislation under The Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 and the Town & Country Planning Act 1990

Buildings are classified as having a use - for example, retail use. Planning permission is required for material change of use to building or land.

CIL is a levy on new development that will be set by local planning authorities. The power to charge CIL is set out in the Planning Act 2008 but it is entirely at the discretion of local planning authorities as to whether to have a CIL scheme. Local authorities that implement CIL would use the money raised from it, rather than a Section 106 agreement, to fund infrastructure schemes across their area, such as schools and roads. This means in turn that such authorities could only use Section 106 agreements to fund affordable housing or environmental improvements on the development site.

Community strategies should set out a vision for a local authority's area along with actions and commitments to further economic, social and environmental well-being. Community strategies are usually prepared by a body called a local strategic partnership, made up of representatives from local bodies and interest groups.

Under the EU directive on strategic environmental assessment (SEA), the competent authority is the body which must consider the SEA report before coming to a decision on whether to adopt a programme or plan.

When land is taken without the agreement of the owner. Housing authorities and highway authorities are among the bodies that have compulsory purchase powers.

Planning conditions are provisions attached to the granting of planning permission. They can: Limit permitted development rights for a particular site Modify the proposals in a planning application, by, for example, reducing the size of the affected site or adding a provision. On sites worked for minerals or waste disposal this can include restoration through backfilling of a certain type of soil, and/or 'aftercare' - to bring the land back into a use specified by the minerals planning authority Govern the occupancy (though not the ownership) of dwellings used by agricultural workers Grant planning permission only to a named person, rather than leave it in force for a site regardless of the owner as is usually the case Conditions are different from planning obligations, because they can only be enforced through the planning enforcement regime. Conditions also cannot involve cash payments by the developer, either voluntarily or at the request of the local planning authority. On the other hand, developers have the opportunity to get a condition removed that they don't like, by appealing against the imposition of conditions. The Government's five policy tests for conditions are that they must be necessary, relevant to planning, relevant to the development to be permitted, enforceable, precise and reasonable in all other respects. More detail on Government policy on planning conditions is in Circular 11/1995 (found in Government policies)

An area of special architectural or historic interest, designated under the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1991, whose character and appearance it is desirable to preserve and enhance. There are special rules on some development in conservation areas.

The core strategy is one of the development plan documents forming part of a local authority's local development framework. It should set out the vision, spatial strategy and core policies for the spatial development of the area.

The elected governing body of a county. Counties are usually divided into several districts, each with its own separate local administration (districts may be called boroughs in some cases).

From the Latin de minimis non curat lex ('the law does not deal with trivial matters'). This is a term accorded to activities or changes too minor to fall within the legal definition of development. The local planning authority would decide that such changes would make no difference to the outward appearance of a building. This generally includes installation of equipment such as television aerials, microcells or small antennas.

See housing density

The part of Government responsible for transport. The Department's stated objective is to oversee the delivery of a reliable, safe and secure transport system that responds efficiently to the needs of individuals and business whilst safeguarding our environment.

A document that provides guidance on how development can be carried out in accordance with design policies of a local authority . Design guides are issued by some counties and many district and unitary authorities.

Another word for decision. A local authority determines how to rule on a planning application or planning appeal.

Most development needs permission to proceed. Development has a legal definition, found in section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. There are two parts to the definition. The first is operational development, which includes the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land. The second is changes of use, which covers the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or land.