Chapter 16 - GLOSSARY
Affordable Housing
See Housing Chapter section 5.7.14.
Amenity Space
Amenity space should normally have some sunlight, and should normally be directly accessible from a room other than a bedroom. It excludes the first 2m of space at the side of dwellings (measured from the boundary) and the first 6m of front garden space (measured from the front boundary) which are treated as landscaping space and not exclusively amenity space. The large majority of amenity space should be grassed and landscaped. For family housing and category 1 elderly persons accommodation, amenity space should mainly be provided in the form of gardens (in the latter case wheelchair accessible planting bays should be provided).
Ancillary Use
A use appropriate to the primary use of a building or piece of land e.g. storage and office floorspace in a factory.
Article 4 (2) Direction
A direction granted by the local planning authority following public consultation under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. It can be used to remove "Permitted Development" rights for certain forms of householder development in conservation areas. The removal of permitted development rights outside these categories and/or outside conservation areas still requires the confirmation of the Secretary of State for The Environment under Article 4(1).
Black and Minority Ethnic Groups (BME)
This term is specifically used by the Census to globally aggregate and distinguish groups on a racial basis from those classified as ‘white’. However, this ‘white’ category includes Census enumerated communities in Brent, such as the Irish, who regard themselves as constituting a distinct ethnic minority. Other population sectors, such as Kurdish and Orthodox Jewish, who are not specifically enumerated by the Census, may also have distinct cultural characteristics, effectively similar to ethnic minorities. Such groups are therefore encompassed in the term ‘ethno-cultural’ as used in this Plan.
Business Use
Use for the purposes of offices, research and development or industry, providing (Class B1) that such a use can be carried out in a residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area (definition derived from "The Use Classes Order 1987" - Department of the Environment Statutory Instrument 764, 1987).
Brownfield Sites
See under previously developed urban land.
Care in the Community
Programme of support and service provision in ordinary housing within the local community for people with mental or physical disability or other problems requiring special support. The aim is to enable a more independent life than would be possible in a larger institution.
Children's Play Space
In new residential developments intended for families, a standard of 3 sq.m. local play space per child bed space in addition to the appropriate amenity space standard will normally be applied. (All bedrooms other than the main bedroom are counted as child bedspaces with bedrooms at or above the Council's size standards for double bedrooms being counted as two child bedspaces.)
Circulars
Occasional government advice to aid interpretation of legislation and to advise local authorities on government expectations in their delivery of services.
Commercial Development
New building for warehousing and storage; the term may also include shopping and office development.
Commercial Improvement Area (CIA)
An area declared under the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978 (s.4) which is mainly commercial in character and where grants and loans may be available for improvements to buildings and to the amenity of the area.
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 14 days notice.
Convenience Goods
Those items which are usually purchased from shops on a regular basis, by virtue of availability and convenience, rather than as a result of the comparison of products.
Deficiency Area
Area which is beyond a reasonable distance from a facility such as a shop, park or community centre.
Development Control
The activity of the local planning authority to decide whether development may proceed and thus Planning Permission be given, with reference to the development plan for the area and other material considerations.
Development Plan
For the purposes of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 the development plan for any London Borough is the Unitary Development Plan.
Durable Goods
Goods for which purchase involves comparison by the customer and which while not being purchased frequently must nevertheless be stocked in a wide range of size, styles, colours and qualities e.g. clothes and footwear, fashion wear, fabrics, jewellery, furniture and goods normally sold at specialist shops and general stores. (definition derived from "Development Control Policy Note 13" - Department of the Environment, 1977).
Dwelling
A building or any part of a building that forms a separate and self-contained set of premises designed to be occupied by a single family or household. (definition derived from "The Census 1981 Definitions Great Britain" - Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, 1981).
Employment Use
See para 7.1.1
Ethno-cultural
See Black and Ethnic Minorities.
Foyer Accommodation
Supervised non-self contained accommodation for young single people, often linked to training programmes.
General Permitted Development Order (GPDO)
Statement by central government of the type and scale of Development which does not require Planning Permission.
General Industrial Use (Class B2)
An industrial use, other than those which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area, and which is not in Classes B3-B7 of the Use Classes Order (definition derived from "The Use Classes Order 1987" - Department of the Environment Statutory Instrument 764, 1987).
Green Transport Plans
A document submitted as part of a transport impact assessment setting down proposed measures by the developer to deliver sustainable transport objectives, including: measures for reducing car usage (particularly single occupancy journeys) & promoting and securing increased use of walking, cycling and public transport. (See Para 6.6.11).
Habitable Room
Habitable rooms are all rooms except hallways, bathrooms, WCs, laundry rooms and storage cupboards.
For the purposes of density calculations solely only kitchens of above 13sqm. count as habitable rooms; bedsitting rooms are counted as 1.5 habitable rooms. The maximum size for a single habitable room is counted as 18sqm, where the room can be easily subdivided to provide an additional bedroom. With larger rooms counted as two habitable rooms.
For all other purposes including daylighting, sunlighting, privacy and outlook kitchens are counted as habitable rooms whatever their size.
In accordance with BS206:Part 2:1992 for purposes of daylighting and sunlighting habitable rooms will be assessed in the following order of declining importance: Kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms.
Highway
An area of land for which the public has the right of way to pass under or through.
Housing Density
The number of dwellings per Net Residential Area, measured in Habitable Rooms per hectare.
Household
One person living alone or persons living at the same address with common housekeeping or sharing a common living or sitting room.
Industrial Improvement Area (IIA)
An area declared under the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978 (s.4) which is mainly industrial in character and where grants and loans may be available for improvements to buildings and to the amenity of the area.
Key Worker Housing
A ‘key worker’ for the purpose of eligibility for affordable housing provision in this Plan is defined as a person employed in directly delivering a vital service, such as health, education, police and transport etc, that the local planning and housing authority deems is essential for the maintenance of a sustainable community. Affordable housing provision may ameliorate the recruitment and retention problems that affect service delivery.
Large Retail Development
Development for retail use which provides for more than a purely local service such as a superstore (over 2,500 sq metres)
Listed Building
A building of special architectural or historic interest included on a statutory list compiled by the DoE. Planning Permission is required for the demolition or alteration of such a building.
Local Employment Sites
Sites, outside the Primary Employment Areas, which provide, or are capable of providing, local employment opportunities. These sites include those on the fringes of Primary Employment Areas, scattered large sites and smaller sites dispersed throughout the Borough including those in residential areas.
Metropolitan Open Land (MOL)
Areas of predominantly open land forming islands and wedges in the built up area and which provide it with strategic and attractive breaks. Strategic Guidance stresses that there should be a presumption against development in these areas.
Non-conforming Use
Any use which would be out of character and keeping with the established predominant use of an area, e.g. a general industrial use located in a primarily residential area.
Non-Retail Use
Use within shopping centres that are not within Use Class A1.
Permitted Development
Minor development which, by virtue of the General Permitted Development Order, does not require planning permission.
Planning Brief
A description of the type of development which the Council would expect on particular development sites, including land uses, features to be retained, overall design considerations and Planning Advantage where appropriate.
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 Permission
Formal approval given by a local planning authority for Development requiring planning permission (see General Development Order), usually valid for five years for a full permission or three years for an outline permission in which details are reserved for subsequent approval.
Previously Developed Urban Land
Previously-developed land is that which is or was occupied by a permanent structure (excluding agricultural and forestry buildings), and associated fixed surface infrastructure1. The definition covers the curtilage of the development2. 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 procedures3.
The definition excludes land and buildings that have been used 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.
1: In other words, the urban land uses as defined by the DETR's Land-Use Change Statistics (excluding 'urban land not previously developed').
2: The curtilage is defined as the area of land attached to a building. All of the land within the curtilage of the site (as defined above) will also be defined as previously developed. The curtilage will be that as defined for the DETR/ Ordnance Survey/ Land Use Change Statistics classification.
However, this does not mean that the whole area of the curtilage should therefore be redeveloped. For example, where the footprint of a building only occupies a proportion of a site of which the remainder is open land (such as at an airfield or a hospital) the whole site should not normally be developed to the boundary of the curtilage. The local planning authority should make a judgement about site layout in this context, bearing in mind other planning considerations, such as protection of open space or playing fields or development in the countryside, how the site relates to the surrounding area and requirements for on-site open space, buffer strips, landscaped areas, etc, and how the site relates to the surrounding area.
3: This relates to minerals and waste sites which are to remain unrestored after use because the planning permission allowing them did not include a restoration condition. All other such sites will be restored to 'greenfield' status, by virtue of the planning condition.
Source: PPG3
Primary Shopping Frontage
That area of a shopping centre which is generally the busiest, and contains the largest shop units and major multiples. These are primarily in use Class A1. (See also Secondary Shopping Frontage).
Residential Density
The existing or proposed number of habitable rooms (defined above) in a given area - usually expressed in terms of habitable rooms per hectare or acre (definition derived from "The Greater London Development Plan", G.L.C., 1976).
Retail Warehouse
A single level retail store selling non-food goods direct to the public on the premises, usually occupying a purpose built structure with associated car parking, or an existing converted warehouse or industrial building.
Section 106
The section of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that provides for the creation of 'Planning Obligations' (defined above).
Secondary Shopping Frontage
That part of a shopping centre outside the Primary Frontage usually on the fringe, where units are generally smaller and there is a higher proportion of non-retail uses (see Primary Shopping Frontage).
Sheffield cycle stand
A steel loop to which a bicycle can be securely attached.
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
A site of special interest by reason of its flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features.
Sequential Approach
Government policy directing uses that attract a lot of people, such as retail and leisure, to town centres in the first instance. This is explained in detail in the Town Centres and Shopping Chapter section 8.7. A modified version of it also applies to housing (see policy H10).
Spatial Development Strategy
The future Mayor of London’s planning strategy, as well as the spatial policy framework for all of the Mayor’s other strategies.
Supplementary Planning Guidance
Guidance additional and supplementary to the Unitary Development Plan on how to implement its policies. For example on domestic extensions and shopfronts.
Strategic Centres
Town centres considered to be of strategic importance to London, which are the main locations for cultural, entertainment and leisure facilities, as well as shopping. LPAC have identified 33 such centres.
Strategic Guidance (RPG3)
Provided by the Secretary of State for the Environment in 1993 to guide London Boroughs in preparing their Unitary Development Plans.
Strategic Employment Area
Coherent areas of land within the main industrial estates which are, in terms of environment, road access, location, parking and operating conditions, well suited for retention in industrial use.
Superstore
A large food retail outlet of over 3700 sq m (gross floorspace).
Sui-Generis
Uses not falling within a defined use class, e.g. car sales, waste transfer, hostels, theatres, launderettes, petrol stations and amusement arcades.
Sustainable Development
Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and aspirations.
Urban Grain
A measure of the typical pattern of building plots and streets in urban areas. For example, older areas typically have a 'fine grain' with many streets and smaller plots.
White Groups
This term is used here to refer to the three White groups of British, Irish and Other.
Use Classes Order
The Town & Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 lists 16 classes of use. A change from one use to another use within the same Class does not constitute development and consequently does not require planning permission. Some of the most widely used use classes include:
Class A1 Shops
Class A2 Financial or Professional Services
Financial or Professional Services (other than health or medical services), being services which it is appropriate to provide in a shopping area, and where the services are provided principally to visiting members of the public.
Class A3 Food and Drink
Use for the sale of food or drink for consumption on the premises or of hot food for consumption off the premises.
Class B1 Business
Use for all or any of the following purposes-
(a) as an office other than a use within Class A2,
(b) for research and development of products or processes.,or
(c) for any industrial process. being a use which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit.
Class B2 General Industrial
use for the carrying on of an industrial process other than one falling within Class B1, or special industrial groups Classes B3 to B7.
Class B8 Storage or Distribution
Class C1 Hotels
Use as a hotel, boarding or guest house or as a hostel where, in each case, no significant element of care is provided.
Class C2 Residential Institutions
Use for the provision of residential accommodation and care to people in need of care (other than a use in Class C3), or use as a hospital or nursing home, or use as a residential school, college or training centre.
Class C3 Dwellinghouses
Use as a dwellinghouse (whether or not as a sole or main residence):
(a) by a single person or by people living together as a family;
(b) by not more than six residents living together as a single household (including a household where care is provided for residents).
Class D1 Non Residential Institutions
Places of worship, day nurseries, medical services, museums etc.
Class D2 Assembly and Leisure
Use as cinemas, bingo halls and indoor sports etc.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
ACE Arts, Culture and Entertainment
ADRC Area of Distinctive Residential Character
AQMA Air Quality Management Area
BEA Borough Employment Area
BME Black and Minority Ethnic groups
CIA Commercial Improvement Area
C.L.E.A . Contaminated land exposure assessment model
CPZ Controlled Parking Zone
DCMS Department for Culture, Media and Sport
DfEE Department for Education and Employment
DETR Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions
DLP The draft London Plan
EA Environment Agency
GLA Greater London Authority
GOL Government Office for London
GPDO General Permitted Development Order
HIP Housing Investment Programme
HMO Housing in Multiple Occupancy
HFE Higher and Further Education
IIA Industrial Improvement Area
ITP Interim Transport Plan
LA21 Local Agenda 21
LBB London Borough of Brent
LEA Local Education Authority
LES Local Employment Site
LPA Local Planning Authority
LPAC London Planning Advisory Committee
LRC London Research Centre
LTB London Tourist Board
MERA Major Estate Regeneration Area
NHS National Health Service
NLUD National Land Use Database
NRA National Rivers Authority
ODPM Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
ONS Office of National Statistics
PFI Private Finance Initiative
PPG Planning Policy Guidance
SDS Spatial Development Strategy
SEA Strategic Employment Area
SRB Single Regeneration Budget
SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest
SPG Supplementary Planning Guidance
TfL Transport for London
TPO Tree Preservation Order
SERPLAN South East Regional Planning Conference
UDP Unitary Development Plan
