Draft Local Plan - Regulation 18

Glossary of Terms & List of Acronyms

General Terms

Active Travel -Walking, cycling and wheeling as everyday modes of transport, supported by safe and connected routes.

Accessibility -The ability of all people, including elderly and disabled people, those with young children and those carrying luggage and shopping, to move around and use places and facilities.

Affordable Housing - Homes for rent or sale for eligible households whose housing needs are not met by the market.

Active frontages - Ground floor level which generates passing trade and provides a ‘shop-type’ window display with interest at street level.

Ambient noise - Ongoing sound in the environment such as from transport and industry, as distinct from individual events, such as a noisy all-night party. Unless stated otherwise, noise includes vibration.

Amenity Spaces - Private, communal or public external spaces that provide opportunities for informal activities which contribute to the appearance of developments or localities.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) - A requirement for development to achieve a measurable increase in biodiversity post‑development.

Blue Infrastructure - Water‑based landscapes and features including rivers, wetlands, drainage systems and coastal habitats.

Call for Sites - A process inviting landowners and developers to submit land for potential allocation in the Local Plan.

Carbon Neutral / Zero Carbon - Activity that causes no net release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

Circular Economy - Designing development to reduce waste, reuse materials and minimise carbon emissions.

Climate Change Adaptation / Mitigation - Measures to reduce emissions or adjust development to risks such as flooding, heat, sea‑level rise or drought.

Community Facilities -Buildings and spaces providing social, recreational, cultural or health services.

Commercial use / development / floorspace -Comprises all Class E uses and commercial sui generis uses in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order and its subsequent amendments (see Use Class Order definition and table).

Comparison goods -Predominantly durable goods and services where customers may wish to compare prices / quality / type of product sold, with other similar products sold in other shops. Comparison goods retail falls within Class E use class.

Convenience goods -Basic goods or services which people may need on a weekly, if not daily, basis. Convenience goods retailers include grocers and newsagents. convenience goods fall within Class E use class.

Character -The distinctive or typical quality of a building or area, as described by historic fabric, appearance, townscape and land uses.

Combined Heat and Power -The combined production of electricity and usable heat is known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP). Steam or hot water, which would otherwise be rejected when electricity alone is produced, is used for space or process heating.

Context height -The typical or prevailing height within an area, with high and tall buildings considered as an exception to the context rather than defining the context itself.

Custom build -Custom build homes are where an individual or group work with a specialist developer to help deliver their homes and they can input in the design of their home or customise elements of it. The developer may help to find a plot, manage the construction and arrange the finance for the project.

Decide and Provide (Transport) - A modern transport planning approach that sets a preferred future focused on sustainable travel, rather than widening roads in response to predicted car demand.

Deliverable Sites - Sites available now with a realistic prospect of delivery in the short term, contributing to the five‑year housing land supply.

Developable Sites - Sites suitable for development with a reasonable prospect of being delivered in years 6–15 of the plan period.

Development Plan - The statutory planning documents for the area, including the Local Plan and any made Neighbourhood Plans.

Duty to Cooperate - A legal requirement (for plans under the former system) obliging councils to work with neighbouring and relevant bodies on cross‑boundary strategic issues.

Designing out crime - Using the design of the built environment to minimise opportunities for criminal and anti-social behaviour, through matters such as provision of appropriate layout, active frontages, suitable lighting etc.

Employment Land Study (ELS) - Evidence identifying the need for and supply of employment sites.

Evidence Base - The collection of technical studies, assessments and supporting information underpinning the Local Plan.

Exceptional Circumstances (Green Belt) - A test required to justify boundary changes to the Green Belt through the Local Plan process.

Evening economy - Economic activity where main business hours are between 6pm and midnight (e.g. restaurants, theatres, public houses).

Five‑Year Housing Land Supply (5YHLS) - The requirement for councils to demonstrate five years of deliverable housing sites to meet identified housing need.

Gigabit‑Capable Broadband - High‑speed digital telecommunications infrastructure expected for all new development.

Green Belt - Land designated to prevent urban sprawl and maintain openness; development is tightly controlled.

Grey Belt - A national term (2024) for Green Belt land considered lower performing, which may (subject to strict tests) be suitable for development.

Gross floorspace - Method of assessing the extent of building (or land) occupied by a use. This should be measured as Gross Internal Area in accordance with the RICS Code of Measuring Practice, or subsequent replacement professional guidance.

Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) - A statutory assessment of whether plans or projects will adversely affect internationally designated habitats.

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) - Assessment required for certain developments to evaluate health effects and identify mitigation.

Housing Delivery Test (HDT) - A national measure comparing homes delivered against the number required over the previous three years.

Historic fabric - Surviving original and historic fabric in the form of buildings, their structure, details and decoration.

Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) - A document identifying infrastructure needed to support planned growth, how it will be delivered and funded.

Infill development -The insertion of one or more new buildings within a continuous street façade or frontage.

Intermediate housing - Homes for private rent provided at a cost at least 20% below market rents (including service charges where applicable) or low-cost homes for sale as defined in the NPPF, provided to households who meet the council’s income thresholds.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) - A strategy establishing priority corridors for walking and cycling improvements.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) - A county‑level biodiversity enhancement framework; referenced in the Plan vision.

Local Plan - The primary planning document setting out the development strategy for the area over at least 15 years.

Legibility -The degree to which a place can be easily understood and moved through.

Local distinctiveness -The positive features of a place and its communities which contribute to its special character and sense of place.

Masterplanning - A structured design and delivery framework used particularly for strategic sites.

Material Consideration - A factor taken into account when determining a planning application; includes national policy, evidence and site‑specific matters.

Metropolitan Green Belt (MGB) - Part of the London Green Belt which applies within Rochford District.

Mode/Modal Shift - Changing travel behaviour from car‑based transport to sustainable and active modes.

Major development - Development greater than or equal to:

• residential units; or
• 0.5 hectares site area (residential) or 1 hectare (non-residential); or
• gross non-residential (e.g. employment or retail) floorspace of 1,000 sq m (GIA).

Neighbourhood Plan - A community‑led planning document that, once made, forms part of the development plan.

Net Zero / Net Zero Carbon -Development that eliminates or balances greenhouse gas emissions through ultra‑low energy use and renewable generation. Policies SC1–SC3 reference this.

Openness (Green Belt) - The absence of built form and visual intrusion; a defining Green Belt characteristic.

Off-street parking - Dedicated parking that is provided away from the street, which can include garages, driveways, surface level and multi-storey or basement car parks.

On-street parking - Parking that is permitted on the street as opposed to within a designated car park.

Plan Period - The time horizon for the Local Plan, usually at least 15 years from adoption.

Previously Developed Land (PDL / Brownfield Land) - Land that has been built on before (with some exceptions).

Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development - An NPPF principle requiring that planning permission be granted unless adverse impacts significantly outweigh benefits or protective policies apply.

Protected species - Certain plant and animal species protected to various degrees in law, particularly the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (as amended).

Public realm - The parts of the city in either public or private ownerships which are available free for everyone to use or see, including streets, squares and parks.

Regulation 18 - The early Local Plan consultation stage seeking views on issues, options, or a draft plan.

Regulation 19 - The final statutory consultation on the plan intended for submission to the Planning Inspectorate.

Registered providers - Registered Providers are owners and managers of affordable housing and are regulated by Government. Most operate on a not-for-profit basis and use any trading surplus to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones. Registered Providers can include the council, housing associations, housing trusts and cooperatives, registered charities, or non-profit making provident societies or companies.

Retail frontage - A street level frontage characterised by a predominance of shop-type premises.

Settlement Hierarchy - A ranked structure of settlements used for distributing growth sustainably.

Soundness Tests - The four legal tests the Plan must pass at examination (full details provided below).

Spatial Strategy - The overarching approach to distributing development across the district.

Statement of Common Ground (SoCG) - A written agreement documenting cooperation on cross‑boundary planning matters.

Strategic Policies - Policies addressing district‑wide issues such as housing, employment, environment, flood risk and transport.

Strategic Sites - Large‑scale sites capable of delivering significant housing, employment or infrastructure.

Sustainability Appraisal (SA) / Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) - A statutory process assessing environmental, social and economic effects of the Local Plan and reasonable alternatives.

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) - Drainage solutions that mimic natural water processes and reduce flood risk.

Sense of place - The unique perception of a place created by its local buildings, streets, open spaces and activities. The more distinctive the place the greater the sense of it being special. A character which is greater than the sum of the constituent parts.

Social housing - This includes housing owned by local authorities and other registered providers for which the rent is set in accordance with the Government’s rent policy for social rent. It may also be owned by other persons and provided under equivalent rental arrangements to the above, as agreed with the local authority or with Homes England.

Specialist housing - Affordable housing, hostels, Houses in Multiple Occupation, housing for those with special needs including elderly people, students, people with learning or physical disabilities, or mental health problems, or other supported accommodation. These fall within the C2 and C3 Use Classes or are classified as sui generis uses.

Sustainable transport modes - Walking, cycling and other non-vehicular means of movement; public transport including rail, underground, buses, coaches, passenger ferry, light rail / tram and licensed cabs; and high occupancy and electric vehicles.

Tall building - Buildings of twice the prevailing context height or higher or those which make a significant change to the skyline.

Transport Assessment (TA) / Transport Statement (TS) - Evidence evaluating the transport impacts of development and appropriate mitigation measures.

Very Special Circumstances (Green Belt) - A high‑level test required for inappropriate development proposed through individual planning applications.

Viability Assessment A financial assessment demonstrating that development can meet policy expectations while remaining deliverable.

Vulnerable people - Someone who is or may need care and / or support by reason of disability, age or illness; and may be unable to look after themselves against significant harm or exploitation.

Windfall development - Development that has not been planned for and is not included in the housing trajectory.

Zero emissions - Activity that causes no release of air pollutants and carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.

Use Classes

Tests of Soundness (NPPF)

A Local Plan must satisfy four Tests of Soundness at examination:

1. Positively Prepared

Based on a strategy that seeks to meet objectively assessed needs and responds to opportunities for growth.

2. Justified

Backed by proportionate evidence and representing an appropriate strategy when compared against reasonable alternatives.

3. Effective

Deliverable over the plan period, achievable, and based on effective joint working on strategic cross‑boundary issues.

4. Consistent with National Policy

Enables the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with national planning policy.

Acronyms

Below is the consolidated acronym list combining your original glossary with additional plan‑making and evidence‑base terminology.