Appendix 4 Glossary of Terms

By necessity some technical and legal terms and phrases have been used in this document. This glossary aims to explain these in plain English. It is by no means exhaustive either in its breadth of contents or depth of meaning, but it is hoped that it will prove to be a useful aid when used in conjunction with the text, statutory documents, circulars etc.

Access Bus - a service operated by the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (METRO) in conjunction with the Social Services Department to provide an assisted dial-a-ride means of transport for less mobile citizens.

Access Land - large areas of ‘open space’ which are open to public access, either as urban common or rural common, some of which is owned by the Council. This open space (AL) land is shown on the Proposals Map. This is NOT the Access Land referred to in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW Act) which is not shown.

Active Solar Power - the use of solar panels to directly heat water systems by using the sun’s energy

Advertisement Hoarding - a large board used for displaying advertising posters.

Affordable Housing - housing which is accessible to people whose income is insufficient to enable them to buy housing locally on the open market.

Agriculture - includes horticulture, fruit growing, seed growing, dairy farming, the breeding and keeping of livestock (including any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur, or for the purpose of its use in the farming of land), the use of land as grazing land, meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds, and the use of land for woodlands where that use is ancillary to the farming of land for other agricultural purposes. (Town and Country Planning Act (1990), Section 336)

Air Quality Action Plan - where an Air Quality Management Area is designated, an Action Plan needs to be formulated, outlining how the Council intends to bring about improvements in air quality so as to meet the standards and objectives for the pollutants of concern.

Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) - an area where air pollution is likely to exceed National Air Quality Objectives under the Environment Act (1995), particularly due to road traffic emissions. Air quality will be reviewed over the life of the Plan and therefore new areas may be designated.

Allocation - the land use assigned a specific end use in the UDP/Development Plan. This word relates mainly to New Housing Sites, New Employment Sites and Mixed Use Sites.

Allotment - portion of land used for cultivation. Area of land let out at a nominal rent by local authorities, independent allotment associations or private owners to individuals for the cultivation of food (see also Statutory Allotments).

Amenity - quiet enjoyment of property, it can include factors such as pleasantness, privacy and adequate daylight. However, it does not include the views that a property might enjoy.

Amenity Open Space - open space which has a value in contributing to the areas amenity, notably in terms of its visual or environmental role (rather than the specific value for recreation or nature conservation).

Ancient Woodland - sites which have had continuous woodland cover since at least AD 1600 to the present day, though some sites may have been replanted at some point in the past.

Areas of Archaeological Value (Class III Areas) - areas or sites where evidence exists to indicate the presence or probability of remains of archaeological value. Registered in the Historic Environment Record (HER).

Areas of Special Archaeological Value (Class II Areas) - areas or sites where evidence exists to indicate the presence or strong probability of remains of archaeological value. Registered in the Historic Environment Record (HER).

Article 4 Directions - made under Article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (1995) (and subsequent orders) removing or restricting permitted development rights.

Biodiversity - the richness and variety of plants, insects, birds, mammals and all living things in the world.

Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) - a plan identifying biodiversity priorities and the means of their conservation.

Biomass - the use of products and by-products of agriculture and forestry to produce energy. For example, wood fuel from forestry residues, poultry litter from intensive chicken rearing and the cultivation of crops, typically willow or grass.

Brownfield site - land which has previously been developed as defined by PPG 3 (Housing). (See Previously Developed Land for a full definition)

Building Regulations - a set of national standards set by Government to ensure buildings are constructed in a safe manner. New building work and most refurbishment requires a Building Regulations consent.

Car Clubs - organisations made up of residents who legally agree to jointly own and make use of a limited number of cars.

Car- Free Housing - housing where there will be no car parking allowed with the development. Residents will need to agree not to own a car.

Challenge Funding - Challenge Funding is a scheme introduced by English Heritage and the Council for British Archaeology to encourage voluntary effort in making original contributions to the study and care of Britain's historic environment. Groups, societies and individuals are challenged to put forward proposals for innovative projects which will say something new about the history of local surroundings, and thus inform their future care.

Circular - Government advice which clarifies and explains matters of both legislation and procedure.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) - use of the waste heat from power generation to provide heating for a building or neighbourhood.

Common Land - includes any land enclosed under the Enclosure Acts (1845 to 1882), and any town or village green (Town and Country Planning Act (1990), Section 336), over which the public have rights of use. There are generally six recognised rights of common:

  • grazing sheep or cattle (herbage);
  • taking peat or turf (turbary);
  • taking wood, gorse or furze (estovers);
  • taking of fish (pescary);
  • eating of acorns or beechmast by pigs (pannage);
  • the right to take sand, gravel, stone and minerals (common in the soil);

In addition, for urban common there is the right to roam. For rural commons the right to roam is restricted to public rights of way or the owner may grant public rights of access by Deed. However, the Government’s proposals to permit the public access to open countryside will also include access to rural common land.

Community Schools - schools which are to be used as an integral part of the community in which they are located by providing for the educational needs of all the citizens and by offering a range of other community facilities.

Community Strategy - a document bringing together all the Council's strategic intentions for addressing the major issues affecting the Council and its citizens, and setting out a framework for a co-ordinated use of resources and delivery of services.

Commuted Sum - a sum of money paid by a developer, under a planning obligation, to a local authority to cover, or contribute towards, the cost of providing necessary facilities, at or near, the site of a proposed development in order to overcome relevant planning objections. Alternatively, payments may be made periodically to a local authority or some other body, for a specified period to cover, for example, ongoing maintenance costs.

Conservation Areas -areas of special architectural or historic interest, where development is more tightly restricted than elsewhere in order to preserve or enhance their special character and qualities. These areas are designated by the Council under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act (1990) which gives them statutory recognition and protection.

Controlled Waste - non-radioactive solid wastes and sludges (excluding mineral wastes) defined as "controlled wastes" under the Environmental Protection Act (1990). Guidance on the definition of waste is provided in Annex 2 to DoE Circular 11/94 on Waste Management Licensing.

CO 2 - carbon dioxide.

Curtilage - the area of land attached to a building. In the case of Listed Buildings, the ‘listing’ usually extends to cover all structures and boundary walls within its curtilage.

DCLG - Department for Communities and Local Government, set up to replace the ODPM in 2006.

Defensible Space - public and semi-public space that is overlooked, demarcated or maintained by someone. It is an important concept in securing public safety in urban areas where people are empowered with a feeling of ownership of the space around them that they will police and look after, thus contributing to a safer crime-free environment.

DEfRA - Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, set up in 2002. This has replaced part of the former DTLR, and has taken on board aspects of work regarding environmental protection, the role of the Former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and rural issues.

Derelict Land - land so damaged by industrial or other development that it is incapable of beneficial use without treatment.

DETR – the former Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, set up in 1996. The Government Department  that was in charge of, amongst other concerns, planning matters. This replaced the previously separate Departments of Transport and Environment, and was replaced by the DTLR.

Development - the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land (Section 55 Town and Country Planning Act (1990)).

Development Control (DC) - the process of determining planning applications., carried out by the Council in order to ensure appropriate use of land and buildings in conformity with Government legislation and guidance, the Development Plan (in this case the UDP) and other material planning considerations.

Discontinuance Notice - a requirement to remove an advertisement or stop using an advertisement site under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992 as amended.

District - the administrative area of the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale.

DTLR - Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, created in 2001, replaced the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). The DTLR has now been disbanded and replaced by three separate departments, Department for Transport (DfT), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

Ecological Plan - a document commissioned by the Leisure Services Department adopting an ecological approach to the management of the Calderdale Landscape. This was replaced by the Calderdale Biodiversity Action Plan.

Edge of Centre - for shopping uses, a location well connected to and within easy walking distance (up to 300 metres) of the main shopping area, often providing parking facilities that serve the centre as well as the store. For other uses (including offices or leisure), an edge of centre location is likely to be within 300 metres of the town centre boundary.

Energy Conservation - the use of certain building techniques and design principles to produce a more energy efficient building.

Environmental Improvement Areas - areas where the Council will carry out (subject to the availability of resources), and encourage priority measures to improve the environment.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - a procedure and management technique which ensures the likely effects of new development on the environment are fully appraised and taken into account before the development is allowed to go ahead.

Flood Plains - land adjacent to a watercourse over which water flows in times of flood or would flow but for the presence of flood defences where they exist.

Food Deserts - residential areas which are located some distance from convenience shopping. As a general principle, it is an aspiration that every resident within the District should be within 500 metres of a convenience store offering a range of products necessary for daily and top-up shopping.

Footloose Company - a company that does not have any specific locational requirements and as such is free to locate anywhere.

General Permitted Development Order (1995) (GPDO) (as amended) - Statutory Instrument (1995) No 418 which describes those forms of development classed as "permitted development" which do not need express planning permission and therefore do not need to be subject of planning applications.

General lmprovement Areas (GIAs) - areas where encouragement of improvements to owner occupied housing was assisted by grants and environmental improvement. Terminated under Part VIl of the Local Government and Housing Act (1989), effective from March 1991.

Grampian Condition - a form of condition (named after the Grampian Region of Scotland, where their use was first tested in case law) attached to the grant of planning permission which ensures that certain elements, which may be, outside the control of the applicant are implemented or in place before the development can either commence or be occupied. These types of condition are often used instead of a Planning Obligation.

Green Belt - an area of open land defined on the Proposals Map, in accordance with Government guidance (PPG2) where strict controls on development are applied in order to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, safeguard the countryside from encroachment, prevent neighbouring towns from merging with one another, preserve the special character of historic towns and assist in urban regeneration.

Greenfield Land - a common term used to describe land which has not been previously developed, in accordance with the definitions set out in PPG3 Annex C. It includes agricultural fields, agricultural and forestry buildings, parks, allotments and recreation grounds, woodlands and other land that may never have had a permanent structure placed upon them. Also included 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.

Greenhouse Effect - greenhouse gases, (such as carbon dioxide) trap heat in the atmosphere by absorbing longwave radiation while letting the sun's energy pass through, this increases the mean temperature of the planet (also known as ‘global warming’ or ‘climate change’).

Greenhouse Gas - a collection of gas types (including carbon dioxide) which accumulate in the upper atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Habitat - a site or area inhabited by a particular species of plants or animals, which provides the unique combination of characteristics to enable the species to continue to exist.

Halifax Central Monitoring Cordon - this is a survey envelope drawn around the centre of Halifax and used on a regular basis to count traffic and pedestrian flows into and out of the town centre.

Hard Landscaping - landscaping using walling, fencing, street furniture, lighting, stone setts, paving slabs rather than plants.

Heritage - buildings, artefacts or landscapes which have been handed down by a previous generation.

High Voltage Power Lines - power lines carrying over 132 kV.

Highway - a generic term encompassing various public rights of way over land. Highways, or parts of them, may be classed as follows:-

  1. 'all purpose highway’ - one over which the public have a right of way on foot and with vehicles, and over which they may exercise a bridleway user;
  2. ‘carriageway’ - a way constituting or comprised in a highway, being a way (other than a cycle track) over which the public have a right of way for the passage of vehicles;
  3. ‘footway’ - that part of an all purpose highway over which the public have a right of way on foot only;
  4. ‘footpath’ - a highway in its own right over which the public have a right of way on foot only, not being a footway;
  5. ‘bridleway’ - a highway over which the public have a right of way on foot and a right of way on horseback or leading a horse, with or without a right to drive animals of any description along the highway;
  6. 'cycle way’ - a way constituting or comprised in a highway, over which the public have a right of way on pedal cycles with or without a right of way on foot.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) - a dwelling occupied by a number of people living separately.

Housing Corporation - a body created by the Housing Act (1964) through which funding is allocated to Housing Associations. The Corporation operates within an annual cash limit and works to a development programme approved by the Secretary of State.

In-Bye Land - enclosed farmland in hill or upland areas used for the rearing of cattle or sheep or the production of crops.

Landscaping - the treatment of spaces between and around buildings. Landscaping does not necessarily possess any recreational value but includes hard elements (such as paving, walling, fencing, street furniture, lighting, paving) and soft elements (such as grassed areas, trees, shrubs, plants, water areas).

Landscape Character Assessment - is a method for identifying and understanding the patterns and features (both natural and man-made) that makes places distinctive.

Legal Agreement - made between the local planning authority and any person interested in land, for the purpose of restricting or regulating the development or use of the land, usually made in connection with the granting of planning permission (Section 106 Town and Country Planning Act (1990)).

Lifetime Homes - housing designed for all needs and all ages.

Listed Building - a building of special architectural or historic interest which appears on a list compiled or approved by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. This includes any object or structure fixed to the building or any separate structure within the curtilage that has formed part of the land since before 1 July 1948. Once a building is Listed, consent is normally required for its demolition and for any works of alteration or extension which would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest.

Local Centres - see Retail Hierarchy.

Local Nature Reserve (LNR) - an area considered to be of importance for nature conservation, education and public enjoyment. Such sites may be of district or local importance. They may be designated on any land where nature conservation is the primary management objective. Usually designated by the local planning authority, following consultation with English Nature, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act (1949) (as amended).

Local Planning Authority (LPA) - the body responsible for carrying out the statutory and discretionary planning functions of the District - The Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale.

Major Town Centre - see Retail Hierarchy.

Manufacturing Company - a company that produces goods especially by an industrial process.

Massing - the combined effect of the size and shape of a building or group of buildings.

METRO - West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, the marketing and operating agency for passenger transport in West Yorkshire.

Minerals Planning Guidance (MPG) and Minerals Policy Statements (MPSs) - a series of guidance notes issued by the Secretary of State to provide advice on the control of minerals development. The list of MPGs and MPSs is contained within Appendix 2.

Mixed-Use Development - the development of more than one land use on a single site or within a building (such as residential, retail, offices and recreation) which are complimentary and can co-exist without undue conflict.

Mixed-Use Frontages - frontages where non retail uses including those in Food and Drink Class (A3) will be encouraged but will not be allowed to dominate the overall mix of uses.

National Nature Reserves - sites of national importance managed for nature conservation objectives by approved bodies and designated by English Nature.

National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) - a national voluntary organisation which campaigns for the provision and protection of playing fields, public open space and children’s play space.

Natural Surveillance - the discouragement to wrong-doing by the presence of passers-by, or the ability of people to be seen from surrounding windows with the resulting perception of safety.

Neglected Land - land which, though capable of some beneficial use, is at present uncared for, untidy and is in a condition detrimental to the environment.

Neighbourhood Watch - a scheme under which members of a community (such as a housing estate) agree together to take responsibility for keeping an eye on each other’s property, as a way of preventing crime.

Office Amenity Area (Halifax) - an area where the amenity of daytime office uses will be protected from incursions of predominantly night time uses, in order to support the daytime economy of the area.

Open Space - areas of land located within urban and rural areas that are of public value and which may be either in public or private ownership. PPG17 "Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation" (2002) defines open space which may be of public value as: accessible countryside in urban fringe areas, allotments, amenity greenspace (including informal recreation spaces, greenspaces in and around housing, domestic gardens and village greens), cemeteries, children's and teenagers play and informal areas, churchyards, city farms, civic spaces, community gardens, golf courses, grasslands and scrub (e.g. downlands, commons and meadows), green corridors (including river and canal banks, cycleways and rights of way), school grounds, parks and gardens (including urban parks, country parks and formal gardens), playing fields, open and running water, outdoor sports and recreation facilities and grounds (with natural or artificial surfaces and publicly or privately owned), urban and rural commons, urban forestry, wastelands and derelict open land and rock areas (e.g. cliffs, quarries and pits), wetlands, and woodland.

Other Open Space (OOS) - this open space designation is predominantly applied to land that does not have predetermined open space functions such as sports and recreation grounds, cemeteries, amenity land or allotments. It generally consists of formal parks and gardens and other open space including private gardens.

Other Retail Locations - stores or retail parks which are not to be regarded as town centres for the purposes of policy interpretation. These may be in edge-of-centre, out of centre or out of town location. There are no out of town “Other Retail Locations” within Calderdale.

Out-of-Centre - a location that is clearly separate from a town centre, but not necessarily outside the urban area.

Out-of-Town - an out of centre development on land not clearly within the current urban boundary.

Outlying Areas - open countryside, outside and separating the main urban settlements in the District which are either Green Belt, Special Landscape Area or Area around Todmorden.

Outlying Communities - small settlements located within the Green Belt , Area around Todmorden and/or Special Landscape Area. These have a limited range of community facilities, shops and sources of employment and are frequently located in upland areas.

Part M of the Building Regulations - Minimum Standards for Disabled Access to Buildings

Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) - a joint board nominated from the district councils of a metropolitan region to assess overall needs for public transport, to provide funds for subsidised services, promote co-ordination between services and to take action to increase convenience and availability of public transport services.

Passive Solar Design - designing buildings to make optimal use of energy freely available from the sun, daylight and air currents.

Permitted Development (PD) - certain forms of development which, as prescribed in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order (1995) (as amended) and the Use Classes Order (1987) (as amended), do not require express planning permission and therefore do not need to be the subject of planning applications.

Planning Obligations - the Planning and Compensation Act (1991), Section 106, allows a developer to enter into a Planning Obligation either as a legal agreement or as a unilateral undertaking. These ensure that works, infrastructure, or facilities are secured alongside a development.

Photovoltaic Cells (PVs) - cells employing energy from the sun to generate electricity.

Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG) and Planning Policy Statements - a series of policy guidance issued by the Secretary of State to provide guidance on general and specific aspects of planning policy. The list of PPGs and PPSs is contained in Appendix 1.

Pollution - the release of energy (sound, light, heat) or harmful or poisonous substances (solid, liquid, vapour, dust and gases) into the environment, thereby adversely affecting human populations, ecosystems, watercourses, air and soil quality.

Premium Employment Site - defined within RSS for Yorkshire and The Humber Policy E3 as a location for major employment projects with a national or international choice of location, generally within the size range 15-40 hectares, designed to meet the needs of high-tech products and processes and service sector growth.

Previously Developed Land (PDL) - this is defined by PPG3 'Housing' as:

“Previously developed land is that which is or was occupied by a permanent structure (excluding agricultural or forestry buildings), and associated fixed surface infrastructure”.

The definition covers the curtilage of development. Previously developed land may occur in both built-up and rural settings. The definition includes defence buildings and land used for mineral extraction and waste disposal where provision for restoration has not been made through 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 previously developed (e.g. parks, recreation grounds and allotments - even though these 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.

Primary Employment Areas (PEAs) - areas, as defined on the Proposals Map, in which industry and business uses predominate and where the Council will seek to encourage development which creates jobs.

Primary Housing Areas (PHAs) - areas, as defined on the Proposals Map, in which housing predominates.

Primary Shopping Frontages - key frontages of town centres predominantly in retail use, where it is intended to retain retailing as a high percentage of uses.

Priority Species - an animal or plant identified in a Biodiversity Action Plan as being of particular conservation concern.

Priority Habitat - a wildlife habitat identified in a Biodiversity Action Plan as being of particular conservation concern.

Protection Agencies - public sector bodies whose primary function is to protect the public and environment from hazards and development which are likely to be detrimental to health and amenity e.g. the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.

Quality Bus Partnerships - partnerships between METRO, the Council, Police and bus operators on given bus corridors, where efforts are made by all parties to improve the quality and safety of services and facilities provided along that corridor.

Regeneration - the process of targeting resources at improving the infrastructure and environment of deteriorating older urban industrial areas in order to enhance job creation and retention.

Regional Aggregates Working Party (RAWP) - a regional group consisting of representatives from the mineral industry, local authorities and Central Government which assesses the supply and demand for aggregates in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region. The RAWP is guided in its work by the National Co-ordinating Group (NCG) which is chaired by the DTLR and includes senior representatives of industry and local government.

Regionally Important Geological or Geomorphological Site (RIGS) - sites notified as being of particular importance for their educational and geological/geomorphological value.

Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) - the regional planning document for Yorkshire & the Humber published in 2004. This now has development plan status as a result of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Registered Social Landlords (RSL) - independent housing organisations registered with the Housing Corporation under the Housing Act (1996). Most are housing associations, but there are also trusts, co-operatives and companies.

Renaissance - a term central to Government Guidance contained in the Urban and Rural White Papers which promotes the renewal of existing urban and rural settlements of all sizes, making them more attractive, high quality and safe places to live, work, shop, spend leisure time and invest whilst also protecting and enhancing the attractive features and tackling problem areas.

Renewable energy - energy which occurs naturally and repeatedly in the environment. By current convention, the definition also includes combustible or digestible industrial, agricultural and domestic waste material.

Residential Amenity Area (Halifax) - an area in Halifax town centre where the protection of the amenity of existing or potential residents will be an important consideration when determining proposals for other uses.

Resources - the raw materials and means by which development and policies will be implemented. In respect of the UDP the principle resources are land, finance and people.

Retail Hierarchy - definitions of retail hierarchy shown on the Proposals Map:-

  • Major Town Centre - HALIFAX defined as:- large sub-regional centre providing the main comparison shops in the District serving a wide catchment area; some convenience retailing; daily main indoor market facilities, and frequent special outdoor markets; many financial and professional services; administrative, cultural and office employment centre, major entertainment (such as theatre, cinema, night clubs, licensed premises and restaurants); public transport focus, highly accessible, off street public car parking for both long and short stay, and some on street short stay parking.
  • Town Centres - BRIGHOUSE, ELLAND, SOWERBY BRIDGE, HEBDEN BRIDGE AND TODMORDEN defined as:- smaller town centres providing retailing, financial and personal services to a more local area (usually the town and its hinterland in question); supermarket or superstore provision; market held at least once a week; local entertainment (such as theatre or cinema; licensed premises and restaurants); public transport focus; accessible to the local catchment; some off-street public car parking, and on street short stay parking.
  • Local Centres - KING CROSS, QUEENS ROAD, MYTHOLMROYD, HIPPERHOLME, RIPPONDEN, NORTHOWRAM, WEST VALE defined as:- small centres or groups of shops, generally convenience shopping, but some comparison as well; some personal or financial services serving a limited area, hot-food takeaways and licensed premises; some local services such as library or health centre; may be a public transport focus or have through bus services, but mainly pedestrian catchment; possibly some off street parking but mainly on street provision.
  • Local Shops - smaller groups of shops around the District that are too small to show on the Proposals Map, and which also form part of the shopping hierarchy.
  • Other Retail Location - free standing supermarkets, superstores, do-it yourself warehouses, carpet stores, furniture dealers, sometimes located within retail parks.

Retail Parks - a group of at least 3 retail warehouses.

Retail Warehouses - large single-level stores specialising in the sale of household goods (such as carpets, furniture and electrical goods) and bulky DIY items, catering mainly for car-borne customers and often in out-of-centre locations.

RPG 12 - Regional Planning Guidance for Yorkshire and the Humber to 2016, provided by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (2001). This provided the regional basis for developing the Replacement UDP. It was replaced by Regional Spatial Strategy for Yorkshire & the Humber in 2004 (RSS).

Rural Diversification - the development of non-agricultural activities by farm businesses in order to supplement their farming activities. This is often done to support farm income and ensure the continuing viability of the business.

Scheduled Ancient Monument (Class 1 Archaeological Area) - archaeological remains which enjoy special protection by virtue of being scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

SCOSPA - Standing Conference of South Pennines Authorities

Secondary Shopping Frontages - frontages in town centres where retail uses are important but not as important as in the primary frontages. Non-retail uses will be allowed to take a larger proportion of the length of the frontage than in primary frontages.

Secured by Design - the national police scheme which aims to minimise crime and opportunities to commit crime, primarily through employing more security-conscious building design methods.

Service Sector - non-manufacturing sources of employment traditionally associated with 'white collar workers', but also includes banking and finance, business services, hotels and catering and distribution.

Simplified Planning Zone - a scheme that grants a blanket planning permission for certain classes of development within a specified area in order to assist in the regeneration of that area.

Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) - provides resources to support regeneration initiatives carried out by local regeneration partnerships. Its priority is to enhance the quality of life of local people in areas of need by reducing the gap between deprived and other areas, and between different groups.The SRB commitments are to end by 2007. The types of bid supported differ from place to place, according to local circumstances but they will all include some or all of the following objectives:

  • improve the employment prospects, education and skills of local people;
  • address social exclusion and improving opportunities for the disadvantaged;
  • promote sustainable regeneration, improve and protect the environment and infrastructure, including housing;
  • support and promote growth in local economies and businesses;
  • reduce crime and drug abuse and improve community safety.

Site of Ecological or Geological Interest (SEGI) - areas of particular interest by reason of their flora, fauna, geological or physiological features which require protection and preservation.

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - areas designated by English Nature (Nature Conservancy Council for England) as being of special interest by reason of their flora, fauna, geological or physiological features and have statutory protection to preserve these features.

Skyline - the line at which the earth and sky appear to meet.

Solar Gain - designing buildings to make optimal use of energy freely available from the sun, daylight and air currents.

South Pennine Moor - this area forms part of the Pennine ‘backbone’ of England and is a dramatic and distinct upland landscape that stands prominently above the encircling urban centres of Greater Manchester, the Lancashire Valleys and West Yorkshire. This Moor incorporates the South Pennine Heritage Area, as identified by SCOSPA.

Special Area of Conservation (SAC) - a site with statutory protection which is of international importance to biodiversity. Classified under EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna.

Special Housing Needs - groups within society or the community who have particular accommodation requirements (whether through type of housing, location or facilities within or ancillary to the dwelling) which cannot be met on the general owner-occupied or rental market. This may include the elderly, physically and mentally handicapped, single parent families, young people and those leaving institutional care. The type of housing provided may include sheltered homes, hostels and specially adapted dwellings.

Special Landscape Area (SLA) - those parts of the outlying areas that are of high visual amenity and environmental quality which are given protection to retain their physical landforms, rivers, trees, buildings and special character.

Special Needs Groups - groups within society or the community which require additional assistance due to their physical, mental or social condition. These include people with disabilities, the elderly and single parent families.

Special Protection Area (SPA) - a site with statutory protection of international importance to biodiversity. Classified under EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.

Statutory Allotments - parcels of land acquired or appropriated by the local authority specifically for use as allotments. They cannot be sold or used for other purposes without the consent of the Secretary of State under Section 8 of the Allotment Act (1925).

Street Furniture - a broad term describing features and fixtures such as benches, litter bins, raised planters.

Supermarket - single level, self-service stores selling mainly food, with a trading floorspace less than 2,500 square metres, often with car parking.

Superstore - single level, self-service stores selling mainly food, or food and non-food goods, usually with more than 2,500 square metres trading floorspace, with associated car parking.

Sustainability Appraisal - a process which tests the consistency and performance of a plan or policy against sustainable objectives, for example making full use of urban land, protecting  and enhancing natural resources and limiting and reducing pollution.

Sustainable Development - defined by the Bruntland Commission (1987) and quoted in PPS1 as “Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to achieve their own needs.” The UK’s strategy for sustainable development “ A Better Quality of Life” was published in 1999 and highlights the need for environmental improvement, social progress and economic success to go hand in hand.

Surface Water Drainage and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) - a range of sustainable drainage management systems which mimic natural drainage processes rather than using traditional piped methods. These treat surface water near to the source and can reduce flood risk.

Tertiary Mixed-Use Frontages - frontages within which non-retail uses will be allowed up to 50% of the length of the frontage, in order to encourage diversity of uses, but also to control the proliferation of non-retail uses.

The English Sports Council (Sport England) - a Government-funded body which promotes the knowledge and practice of sport and recreation.

Topography - landforms or surface configuration of a region.

Tourism - tourist travel and the services connected with it.

Town Centre - see Retail Hierarchy.

Town Cramming - the over-intensive development of urban areas resulting in the loss of open space, environmental, social and cultural resources and a reduction in the quality of the urban environment.

Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) - statutory protection to specific trees, groups of trees and woodlands of amenity or species value so as to prohibit felling, removal, pruning or damage occurring to them without the prior consent of the local planning authority.

Unitary Development Plan (UDP) - a single tier District-wide plan based on land use issues at both the strategic and local level, replacing the former two tier system of Structure and Local Plans. The UDP has regard to legislation and strategic guidance issued by Central Government, but is otherwise prepared by the local planning authority.

Use Classes Order (1987) (as amended 2005)(UCO) - which classifies different types of land use as follows:-

  • A1 - Shops
  • A2 - Financial and Professional Services
  • A3 - Restaurants and Cafes
  • A4 - Drinking Establishments
  • A5 - Hot Food Takeaways
  • B1- Business (Offices/Light Industry)
  • B2 -General Industry
  • B8 - Storage and Distribution
  • C1- Hotels and Hostels
  • C2 - Residential Institutions
  • C3 - Dwelling Houses
  • D1- Non-Residential Institutions
  • D2 - Assembly and Leisure
  • Sui Generis (Uses Outside the Definitions of the Use Classes Order) - as listed in Article 3(6) and other uses not specified including:- retail warehouse clubs, petrol filling stations, theatres, amusement arcades, nightclubs, hostels funfairs, launderettes, motor vehicle sales, taxi or car hire business, scrapyards, builders' yards, storage and distribution of minerals, or works registrable under the Alkali etc Works Regulations Act (1906).

Vista - an extensive view, especially through a long narrow avenue of buildings or trees.

Warehousing - buildings used for storage and distribution as defined by the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (Class B8).

Washlands - flat areas adjacent to rivers which are set aside to accommodate floodwaters. These areas are identified by the Environment Agency and they are generally protected from development which would prevent them from fulfilling their function.

West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan (WYLTP) - a document prepared jointly by the five Districts of West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield) and acting as the main focus for transport planning, programming and funding within the county area.

Wetlands - areas of swampy or marshy land, waterlogged on a regular basis for whole or part of the year that provide a particular habitat for plants and animals.

Wildlife Corridor - an area providing linking habitats for wildlife through which temporarily displaced species may migrate to other less threatened sites so as to assist in nature conservation within the District, particularly in the urban areas.

Windfarm - a site consisting of groups of wind powered electricity generators.

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