COTSWOLD DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN 2001-2011 (Adopted April 2006)

Glossary

In preparing the Local Plan, an attempt has been made throughout to make it interesting, informative and easy to read. Written justifications and the policies have been simply worded in order that the intentions are as clear, unambiguous and as easily understood as possible. It is inevitable, however, that some unfamiliar words or phrases have been used to avoid repetition of definitions or explanations. Also, many organisations and bodies are referred to in the text about which you may wish to know more, including their aims, duties and obligations. The following glossary gives a quick reference guide to assist your understanding of the Plan.

Affordable Housing: Housing built for sale or rent at a price level below the going market rate and which is related to the ability to pay by those in need. It is necessary to demonstrate that the housing will be genuinely affordable for the target group that the scheme is intended to help and that it will remain so in perpetuity. Schemes are only usually undertaken once the level of need has been established by a housing needs assessment. [See Policy 21]

Agricultural, Forestry or Other Occupational Dwelling: A house or flat that is subject to, or proposed to be subject to a legal limitation. This specifies that its occupancy is/will be limited to a person solely or mainly employed in agriculture or forestry and his / her dependants. The legal limitation is normally in the form of a condition attached to a planning permission. [See Policies 29 and 30].

Ancient Woodland: Woodland on a site that has been continuously wooded from 1600 AD to present, and has only been cleared for underwood or timber production. Areas have been identified by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust [See Policy 10].

Appropriate Development: The proposed development must be suitable for the particular site in question. Design, materials, good neighbourliness and road safety are particularly important considerations. In addition, many of the policies in this Plan apply specific criteria to the assessment of certain types of development and these must also be taken into account.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): A designated area of nationally important landscape value within which the conservation and enhancement of its natural beauty is the priority. The Cotswolds AONB is the largest in the country and covers about 77% of the District. It was designated by the Countryside Commission in 1966. [See Policy 7].

Brownfield (or Previously Developed) Sites: Previously developed land that is, or was, occupied by a permanent structure. This may include sites in the countryside, which have been developed for industrial or other purposes. The definition also covers the curtilage of the development. However, the definition does not include buildings or land used for agricultural purposes, or land in built- up areas that has not been developed previously, e.g. parks, recreation grounds, and allotments. 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.

Commitments: All proposals for development that are the subject of a current (full or outline) planning permission, or any unimplemented allocations in an existing planning policy.

Conservation Area: An area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Works to certain trees within Conservation Areas are subject to prior notification procedures. There are additional planning controls over certain works carried out within the Conservation Area. For example, demolition within Conservation Areas requires consent. The designation does not preclude development from

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taking place, but does require high design standards of any building constructed. [See Policy 15].

Development: Section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 defines development as "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".

Development Boundaries: Development Boundaries are shown on the Proposals Map Insets and essentially define the urban extent of Cirencester and the nine Principal Settlements. Within these boundaries, development of an appropriate scale, in sympathy with the form and character of the settlement, is acceptable in principle subject to other policies in the Plan. [See Policy 18]

Dwellings: Self-contained buildings or parts of buildings which usually accommodate a single household. This may include houses, bungalows, converted farm buildings or flats.

Flood Plain: Usually land beside a river, stream or other watercourse over which the water flows in time of flood, or would flow if there were no flood defences. The area considered to be so much at risk from flooding that it should not be used for buildings is generally that which, on average, is flooded once in every 100 years, or more often. Washlands form part of the flood plain where water is stored in time of flood. [See Policy 6]

General Permitted Development Order (GPDO): A set of Government regulations that provide a detailed list of the types of development which do not require planning permission.

Green Belt: An area of land designated by statute, the main purpose of which is to control the expansion of built-up areas and to prevent the merging of neighbouring towns. Cotswold District includes a small part of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Green Belt within the Parish of Coberley. [See Policy GB.1]

Greenfield Sites: Land on which no development has previously taken place, including agricultural land, recreation grounds and allotments.

Hectare: Metric unit of measurement of land area (1 Hectare = 2.471 Acres).

Highways Authority: In the case of Cotswold District the Highways Authority is Gloucestershire County Council. The Highways Authority is responsible for co-ordinating the maintenance and improvement of all public highways except motorways and trunk roads, which are the responsibility of the Department of Transport. The County Council is also responsible for highway-related matters such as on-street parking and traffic management.

Infilling: A term used in the Gloucestershire Structure Plan to describe the construction of one or two dwellings in a gap which exists within an otherwise continuously built-up frontage.

Listed Buildings: Buildings and structures that have been identified by the Government as being of special architectural or historic interest and whose protection and maintenance are the subject of special legislation. They are graded, according to age, quality, rarity etc., either I, II* or II. Their curtilage and setting is also protected. Normally, Listed Building Consent is required before any works are carried out on a listed building. [See Policy 13]

Outstanding Planning Permission: A current Planning Permission that has yet to be implemented.

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Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest: Parks and Gardens that are listed in a register maintained by English Heritage. Like listed buildings they are graded I, II* and II. By reason of their historic layout, features and architectural ornaments, the parks and gardens are considered to be of particular interest and quality. [See Policy 11].

Planning Permission: New development, major alterations and enlargement of existing buildings, and many changes of use of buildings and land all require planning permission. Permission must be sought from the Local Planning Authority. An application for planning permission may be approved, subject to certain conditions, or refused. The applicant has the right to appeal to the Secretary of State against any refusal or condition. Planning permissions are only valid for a limited period - outline permissions for three years and detailed (or full) permissions for five years, unless otherwise stated.

Planning Policy Guidance Note/ Planning Policy Statement (PPG/PPS): A series of Guidance Notes, produced at the national level, covering a wide range of planning issues. PPGs advise on the implementation of Government policy regarding the purpose and function of the planning system. They are gradually being updated and replaced by Planning Policy Statements (PPS).

Regional Planning Guidance (RPG10)/ Regional Spatial Strategy RPG10 sets out the regional spatial strategy and framework for development plans. Cotswold District lies within the South West Region. The latest Regional Planning Guidance for the South West covers the period to 2016 and was brought into operation in September 2001. It is anticipated that a new Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) will replace RPG10 by 2008.

Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM): Features of archaeological or historic interest, listed in order to prevent them being damaged or destroyed. The regulations are similar to those applied to listed buildings, but are administered nationally rather than Local Authorities. [See Policy 12]

Sites and Monuments Record (SMR): This provides up-to-date information on sites of archaeological interest, which would be relevant to the consideration of many development proposals.

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): A specifically defined area within which protection is afforded to ecological or geological features. Sites are officially notified by English Nature. [See Policy 9].

Special Landscape Areas (SLA): Areas that are adjacent to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and which are subject to landscape protection. [See Policy 8]

Structure Plan: Strategic planning policy for Gloucestershire is set out in the Gloucestershire County Structure Plan. The Structure Plan sets out the broad levels of growth and change for the County as a whole, but does not identify specific sites for development or precise areas to be protected. The Cotswold District Local Plan applies the Structure Plan strategy at the local level. The Local Plan 2001-2011 has been prepared in accordance with strategy set out in the Second Review of the Structure Plan, which was published in November 1999.

Supplementary Planning Guidance/ Supplementary Planning Document (SPG/SPD) SPG can take the form of design guides, area development briefs, or it can supplement other specific policies in the Plan. However, it is prepared separately from, and does not form part, of the Plan itself. SPG must be consistent with national and regional planning guidance, as well as the Plan’s adopted policies. Under the new Planning Regulations, Supplementary Planning Documents should be prepared within a more structured framework, incorporating sustainability appraisal and full consultation procedures.

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Tree Preservation Order (TPO): An order made by the Local Planning Authority to protect a specific tree or group of trees against felling, lopping, topping or other damage. Trees within Conservation Areas have similar protection, except for fruit trees and other trees with trunks below a specified size. [See Policy 10]

Use Classes Order (UCO): A regulation that defines classes of building and land uses. From time to time, the Government redefines use classes. To change the use of a building from one class to another may require planning permission.

Vitality and Viability: The factors that make a shopping centre successful or otherwise, including environmental quality, range of retailers, accessibility, parking and investment.

Windfall Sites: These are sites that have not been proposed in the Plan, but which become available for residential development. They are normally found within defined Development Boundaries. They do not include greenfield land.

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