Preferred Strategy

Adopted Plan

This is the Final stage of Local Development Plan preparatory process - where the Local Development Plan becomes the statutory Development Plan, for the purposes of the Act.

Adopted

The final confirmation of the development plan as its land use planning policy by the Local Planning Authority (LPA).

Affordable Housing

Housing provided to those whose needs are not met by the open market. Affordable housing should:

 meet the needs of eligible households, including availability at low enough cost for them to afford, determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices; and

 include provision for the home to remain affordable for
future eligible households, or if a home ceases to be affordable or staircasing to full ownership takes place, any subsidy should generally be recycled to provide replacement affordable housing.

This breaks down into two sub-categories:

 social rented housing - provided by local authorities and registered social landlords where rent levels have regard to the Assembly Government's guideline rents and benchmark rents; and

 Intermediate housing - where prices or rents are above those of social rented housing but below market housing prices or rents. This can include equity sharing schemes (for example Homebuy). Intermediate housing differs from low cost market housing, which the Assembly Government does not consider to be affordable housing

for the purpose of the land use planning system. (TAN 2: Glossary).

Amenity

A positive element or elements that contribute to the overall character or enjoyment of an area. For example, open land, trees, historic buildings and the inter relationship between them, or less tangible factors such as tranquillity.

Ancillary

Where the use of land or buildings differ from the primary use and is of a lesser importance and are permitted because of their association with the primary use.

Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)

This will assess the extent to which policies in the local development plan are being successfully implemented (Regulation 37 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development Plan) (Wales) Regulations 2005).

Baseline/Pre Change Baseline

A description of the present state of an area against which to measure change.

Biodiversity

The variability among living organisms from all sources including animals, plants, birds, insects and fish, and the habitats of which they are part.

Character

A term relating to Conservation Areas or Listed Buildings, but also to the appearance of any urban or rural location in terms of its landscape, townscape or the layout of streets and open spaces, often giving places their own distinct identity.

Candidate Site

Candidate Sites are those nominated by anyone for consideration by the LPA as allocations in an emerging LDP.

Candidate Sites Register

Register of candidate sites prepared following a call for candidate sites by the LPA.

Coalescence

The merging or joining up of two separate settlements or of separate elements of settlement.

Commitments

Undeveloped land with current planning permission or land which is currently being developed.

Community

People living in a defined geographical area, or who share other interests and therefore form communities of interest.

Completions

Planning consents for development which have been constructed or brought into operational use.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

The Community Infrastructure Levy is a planning charge, introduced by the Planning Act 2008 as a tool for local planning authorities to help deliver infrastructure to support the development of their area. It came into force on 6 April 2010 through the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010.

Community Involvement Scheme (CIS)

Sets out the project plan and policies of the LPA for involving local communities, including businesses, in the preparation of local development plans. The CIS is submitted to the Welsh Government as part of the Delivery Agreement for agreement.

Consensus Building

A process of early dialogue with targeted interest groups to understand relevant viewpoints and agree a course of action.

Conservation Areas

An area designated by the LPA under legislation which is of a special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which is desirable to preserve or enhance.

Consultation

A formal process in which comments are invited on a particular topic or set of topics, or a draft document.

Contextual Indicator

An indicator used to monitor changes in the context within which the plan is being implemented or prepared.

Delivery Agreement (DA)

Document comprising the LPA's timetable for the preparation of the LDP together with its Community Involvement Scheme, submitted to the Welsh Government for agreement.

Density

In the case of residential development, a measurement of either the number of habitable rooms per hectare (or acre) or number of dwellings per hectare (or acre).

Deposit Documents

These include the deposit LDP, the Sustainability Appraisal report, the initial consultation report, the candidate sites register, the Review Report (if appropriate), any relevant supporting documents.

Development Limits

A line drawn in order to define the area of a settlement within which development is acceptable in principle subject to detailed consideration of environmental, amenity, access, public service provision and other considerations. Areas outside the limits are regarded as the open countryside.

Employment Land

Land used for the purposes of employment by one or more of the following: offices, manufacturing, research and development, storage and distribution (see also Use Classes).

Engagement

A process which encourages substantive deliberation in a community. Proactive attempt to involve any given group of people/section of the community.

Evidence Base

Interpretation of Baseline or other information/data to provide the basis for plan policy.

Habitat

An area of nature conservation interest.

Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)

The screening and appropriate assessment of options required under Part 6 Chapter 8 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (as amended) (the Habitats Regulations) - a recognised iterative process which helps determine the likely significant effect on a plan or programme and (where appropriate) assess adverse impacts on the integrity of a European site. The assessment is required to be undertaken by a competent authority in respect of plans or projects which are likely to have a significant effect (alone and in combination with other plans and projects) on a "European site" (see paragraph 5.1.2 of TAN 5), or as a matter of policy a proposed "European site" or Ramsar site, under the provisions of Article 6(3) of the EC Directive 92/43/ECC (the Habitats Directive), regulations 61 and 102 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (as amended) 2010, and, regulation 25 of the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 2007.

Infill Development

The development of a small gap between existing buildings. To qualify as infill, the proposed development must be related to the size and character of the particular settlement.

Infrastructure

Includes services such as roads, transport facilities, water supplies, sewerage and associated waste water treatment facilities, waste management facilities, energy supplies (electricity and gas) and distribution networks and telecommunications infrastructure. Soft infrastructure includes ICT and telecommunications.

Integrated Community Strategy (ICS)

Required by the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 (Part 2: Sections 37-46) with the aim of improving the social, environmental and economic well-being of their areas. Also referred to as a "Single Integrated Plan".

Local Planning Authority (LPA)

A planning authority responsible for the preparation of an LDP.

Local Development Plan (LDP)

The required statutory development plan for each local planning authority area in Wales under Part 6 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A land use plan that is subject to independent examination, which will form the statutory development plan for a local planning authority area for the purposes of the Act. It should include a vision, strategy, area-wide policies for development types, land allocations, and where necessary policies and proposals for key areas of change and protection. Policies and allocations must be shown geographically on the Proposals Map forming part of the Plan.

Local Well-being Plan

Under The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 Public Service Boards will be established for each local authority area; it is intended that each will prepare a Well-being Plan to replace the SIP by April 2018 (s.39).

Marine Plan

The Welsh National Marine Plan prepared under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

Market Housing

Private housing for rent or sale where the price is set in the open market. (TAN2: Glossary).

Mitigation

Measures to avoid, reduce or offset significant adverse effects.

Mixed Use

Developments or proposals comprising of more than one use type on a single site.

National Development Framework (NDF)

Provision is made under Planning (Wales Act) 2015 for the preparation of an NDF. Prepared by the Welsh Government the NDF will set out a 20 year land use framework for Wales and will replace the current Wales Spatial Plan.

National Nature Reserve (NNR)

An area designated for its national importance in nature conservation terms and managed through joint nature reserve agreements with landowners etc,

Objective/Strategic Objective

A statement of what is intended, specifying the desired direction of change in trends.

Open Space

All space of public value, including public landscaped areas, playing fields, parks and play areas, and also including not just land, but also areas of water such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs, which can offer opportunities for sport and recreation or can also act as a visual amenity and a haven for wildlife.

Partners

Other local/National Park authority departments and statutory bodies where the LDP will help to deliver some of the objectives of their strategies. Partners may be expected to contribute to formulating relevant parts of the LDP.

Planning Obligation

A legal agreement between an applicant and the local planning authority to ensure a development is carried out in a certain way. Also referred to as a Section 106 Agreement.

Planning Policy Wales (PPW)

Planning Policy Wales sets out the land use planning policies of the Welsh Assembly Government. It is supplemented by a series of Technical Advice Notes. Procedural advice is provided through circulars and policy clarification letters.

Playing Fields

Land set out with a pitch or pitches for games.

Pre-deposit Documents (LDP)

These include the vision, strategic options, preferred strategy, key policies, the Sustainability Appraisal report, the candidate sites register, Review Report (if appropriate).

Pre-deposit Stage

In the LDP Manual, referred to as the Strategic Options and Preferred Strategy stage of LDP preparation.

Previously Developed Land

Land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure (excluding agricultural or forestry buildings) and associated fixed surface infrastructure. See also Definition of Previously Developed Land contained in PPW: Edition 9.

Ramsar

A wetland site of international importance for nature conservation. Designation is enabled by the Ramsar Convention 1971 whereby participating European Governments undertake to protect such areas.

Review Report

The required statutory report under S69 of the 2004 Act and/or Reg41; to conclude on the LDP revision procedure to be followed based on a clear assessment of what has been considered and what needs to change and why, based on evidence.

Ribbon Development

The linear extension of settlements, including frontage development along approach roads, resulting in the unnecessary intrusion of development into the countryside.

Section 106 Agreement

See Planning Obligations.

Single Integrated Plan (SIP)

Discharges statutory duties identified by Welsh Government ("Shared Purpose – Shared Delivery", WG 2012), including Community Strategies; prepared by a Local Service Board. See "Local Well-being Plans" which are to replace SIPs".

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Sites of Special Scientific Interest are notified by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) under legislation to afford protection to flora, fauna and geological or physiological feature of special interest.

Site Specific Allocations

Allocations of sites (proposals) for specific or mixed uses or development. Policies will identify any specific requirements for individual proposals with the allocations shown on the LDP's proposals map.

Soundness

In order to be adopted, an LDP must be determined 'sound' by the examination Inspector (S64 of the 2004 Act). Tests of soundness tests and checks are identified in PPW.

Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Sites of international conservation importance designated by the Welsh Ministers under the European Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Flora and Fauna. In addition there are candidate SAC's which should, as a matter of Government policy, be viewed as full SAC's when examining land use impacts.

Special Protection Area (SPA)

Special Protection Areas For Wild Birds under The E.C. Council Directive On the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/4C9/EEC) provides for the protection, management and control of all species of naturally occurring wild birds.

Specific Policies

A suite of criteria-based policies which will ensure that all development within the area meets the aims and objectives set out in the Strategy.

Stakeholders

Interests directly affected by the LDP (and/or SEA) - involvement generally through representative bodies.

Statement of Common Ground (SocG)

The purpose of a SOCG is to establish the main areas of agreement between two or more parties on a particular issue.

Strategic Development Plan (SDP)

Provision is made under the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 for the preparation of SDP's at a regional level. SDP will have regard to the NDF and responding at a regional level to strategic issues.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

Term used internationally to describe environmental assessment as applied to plans and programmes. SEA process is derived from European legislation and defined at European level – Directive 2001/42/EC. The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Wales) Regulations 2004 (SEA Regulations) require a formal "environmental assessment of certain plans and programmes, including those in the field of planning and land use".

Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG)

Forms a supplementary document/information in respect of the policies in an LDP. SPG does not form part of the development plan and is not subject to independent examination but must be consistent with the Plan and with national planning policy. Can be developed to consider individual or thematic aspects of the Plan and site allocations including masterplans.

Sustainability Appraisal (SA)

Tool for appraising policies to ensure they reflect sustainable development objectives (i.e. social, environmental and economic factors). Each LPA is required by S62(6) of the 2004 Act to undertake SA of the LDP. This form of SA fully incorporates the requirements of the SEA Regulations.

Sustainability Appraisal Report (SA Report)

Document required to be produced as part of the SA process to describe and appraise the likely significant effects on sustainability of implementing the LDP, which also meets the requirement for the Environmental Report under the SEA Regulations. S62(6) of the 2004 Act requires each LPA to prepare a report of the findings of the SA of the LDP. The SA Report is first produced at the Preferred Strategy stage (the Interim SA Report), expanded at the Deposit LDP stage and finalised alongside the Adoption Statement.

Technical Advice Notes (TAN)

A topic-based document published by the Welsh Assembly Government to supplement Planning Policy Wales.

Wales Spatial Plan (WSP)

A plan prepared and approved by the National Assembly for Wales under S60 of the 2004 Act, which sets out a strategic framework to guide future development and policy interventions, whether or not these relate to formal land use planning control. Under S62(5)(b) of the 2004 Act a local planning authority must have regard to the WSP in preparing an LDP.