GLOSSARY

1:200 year flood event

A level of flooding that could be expected to happen once every 200 years. However, this level of flood may not occur within a 200-year period or it could occur more than once within that period.

The higher the ratio, e.g. 1:500 years, the less frequently the flood event is likely to occur, but it will be more severe when it does occur.

A1

Use class as defined in the Use Classes Order. Shops, post offices, travel agents, hairdressers, funeral directors, dry cleaners.

A2

Use class as defined in the Use Classes Order. Banks, building societies, betting offices, and other financial and professional services.

A3

Use class as defined in the Use Classes Order. Food and drink - pubs, restaurants, cafes, and hot food take-aways.

Accessibility

The ability of all potential users, regardless of age, disability, gender, religion or financial circumstances to reach their destination by a choice of means of transport or to approach, enter and use buildings, or parts of buildings.

Agricultural / Farm diversification

An alternative use of land or buildings involving an enterprise, which remains within the farming unit and is integrally related to the farming unit and is in the ownership of the farmer and is managed from the existing farm accommodation.

Agricultural occupancy conditions

Where the occupation of the dwelling is limited to a person solely or mainly working, or last working, in the locality in agriculture or in forestry, or a widow or widower of such a person, and to any resident dependants. (PPG7)

Agricultural worker

A person solely or mainly working, or last working, in the locality in agriculture or in forestry. (PPG7)

Allocation

Land assigned for a particular purpose in the Local Plan, e.g. for housing, industry etc.

Amenity areas

Open spaces within built up areas, particularly residential estates, providing the opportunity for general recreational use.

Ancient woodland

Woodlands that have been in continuous existence since before 1600, particularly important for nature conservation.

Ancillary to

Subsidiary, secondary.

Area of Special Control of Advertisements

The Local Planning Authority can designated an area, which is vulnerable to the visual effects of outdoor advertisements, e.g. the countryside, Conservation Areas, as an Area of Special Control, where outdoor advertisements are limited.

Article 4 Direction

Direction made by the Local Planning Authority to restrict "permitted development" in a particular area.

Articulated building

A building where the changes in height and dimensions are clearly distinguished.

B1

Business use class as defined in the Use Classes Order. B1 includes offices (not financial or professional service offices), research and development of products or processes, light industry (any industrial process that can be carried out in a residential area without detriment to the amenity of that area).

B2

Business use class as defined in the Use Classes Order. General industrial processes.

B8

Business use class as defined in the Use Classes Order. Warehousing, storage or distribution.

Best and Most Versatile (BMV) Agricultural Land

DEFRA's agricultural land classification system identifies the highest quality agricultural land.

Biodiversity

The total variety of life includes both species and habitats.

Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)

BAPs provide an action plan for the conservation of biodiversity. BAPs can be at the national, county or local level. The Essex BAP contains action plans for 25 species and 10 habitats. The Maldon District BAP has action plans for 6 species of particular local importance.

Blackwater Estuary Management Plan

A joint plan (1996) between Maldon District Council, Colchester Borough Council and English Nature, for the management of the Blackwater Estuary.

Blackwater Rail Trail

This linear Country Park follows the line of the disused railway from Maldon to Witham. It will eventually form part of the national cycle route through the District.

Bradwell Power Station

Magnox Nuclear Power Station at Bradwell. Operated by BNFL.

Bring facilities/ banks

Recycling collection points usually found at public places such as car parks and supermarkets.

British Horse Society

The BHS is the UK's largest equestrian charity. It is committed to improving the welfare of horses and ponies and promoting the interests of its membership of horse riders and owners.

Brownfield land

Land that has been developed previously.

Children's play space

Open space provided specifically to accommodate children's play equipment for a range of age groups, available for public use at any time.

Coastal realignment

See managed retreat

Coastal Zone

An area of planning restraint identified around the District's coast, which protects the coast from un-necessary development.

Comparison retail

Non-food retail. Where customers compare prices and goods in different shops before purchasing eg Woolworth's, Dorothy Perkins.

Conservation Area

Areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character of which is desirable to preserve or enhance. Designated by local authorities.

Convenience retail

Food stores e.g. Co-op, Tesco, and Safeway.

Core Retail Area

The primary shopping areas of the District. Policy protects the retail function of these areas, identified on the proposal maps.

Countryside Agency

Government agency with responsibility for rural matters. Formerly the Countryside Commission.

CPRE

Council for the Protection of Rural England. National charity campaigning on rural issues.

CPREssex

Essex branch of CPRE.

Culverting

The piping of natural water courses.

Curtilage

The area of land adjacent to and associated with a dwelling house or building.

Defensible boundary

A boundary style or surface treatment that deters people from entering that area, eg a hedge between a house and the pavement.

DEFRA

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Formerly Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF).

Dengie Peninsula

Southern part of the District, bounded by the Rivers Blackwater and Crouch.

Development

The carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, including demolition, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land.

Development boundary/ envelope

Shown on a Local Plan map, it is a line around a town or village enclosing the built area and any planned extensions to that settlement. Development beyond the development boundary is restricted.

District (Shopping) Centre

Groups of shops usually containing at least one food supermarket and non-retail services e.g. banks, building societies and restaurants. Heybridge is a District Centre

District Transportation Strategy

"Access to Opportunity" (2000) sets out the problems and opportunities for transport in the District, establishes objectives and sets out a package of transport measures for the period 2001-2006. It is the local element of the Essex Local Transport Plan.

DTLR

Department for Transport, Local Government and Regions - the central Government department with responsibility for Planning. Formerly DETR, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Edge-of-centre

For shopping purposes, a location within easy walking distance (i.e. 200-300m) of the primary shopping area. Used in relation to retail development.

Elevations

The external face of a building or structure.

English Heritage

Government agency responsible for the built heritage of England.

English Nature

Governmental agency with responsibility for nature conservation.

Environment Agency

Government agency with responsibility or environmental protection and improvement, its main functions cover pollution prevention and control, water resources, flood defence, conservation, fisheries, navigation and recreation.

Environmental (Impact) Assessment

Identification and analysis of the impacts a development will have on the environment. Required for major development proposals.

Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA)

National designation to protect and enhance an area where traditional farming methods have helped to create a distinctive landscape, wildlife habitats or historic features.

Essex County Council (ECC)

The Local Authority for Essex with joint responsibility for producing the Structure Plan, Waste Local Plan and Minerals Local Plan. It is also the Highways Authority for the county.

Essex Estuaries European Marine Site (EEEMS)

The marine components of the Essex SPAs and SACs form the Essex Estuaries European Marine Site (EEEMS).

Essex Heritage Conservation Record

Essex County Council maintained record of the locations of Scheduled Ancient Monuments, previous archaeological finds, known archaeological sites and listed buildings in Essex.

Essex Local Transport Plan (LTP)

LTPs have a central role in co-ordinating and improving local transport provision. The LTP covers the whole of Essex and includes measures for planning integrated transport for five years and is the basis for putting forward a bid to Central Government for capital works.

Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT)

Nature conservation charity for the county of Essex.

Fenestration

The arrangement and design of windows in a building.

First Deposit

Initial version of a draft Local Plan. Is subject to a 6 week public consultation period.

First Review

The Local Plan was originally adopted in 1987. The Plan was reviewed in 1990. Called the First Review, the revised Plan was adopted in 1996 and covered the period 1991 - 2001.

Flood envelope maps

Maps produced by the Environment Agency to show the extent of areas at risk from tidal and fluvial flooding. Also known as section 105 maps. These maps are a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Flood Management Strategy Plans

Environment Agency Plans that look at an estuary as a whole and identify the most appropriate and sustainable means of providing flood management within that estuary.

Fluvial flooding

Freshwater/river flooding.

Full planning application

A planning application containing the full details of a proposed development.

Functional and financial test

Tests used to assess the need for agricultural workers dwellings. The functional test is used to establish whether it is essential to have a worker(s) living on the farm. The financial test assesses whether the farm is economically viable and provides evidence for the size of dwelling that the farm can sustain.

Functional Flood Plains

Unobstructed or active areas of flood plain where water regularly flows in time of flood. Functional Flood plains act as "safety-valves," storing water that might otherwise flood other areas. It is important that their capacity is not reduced.

Garden extensions

Enlargement of a garden in the countryside, where the new garden area is on land that was not previously a garden, e.g. farm land.

GO-East

Government Office for the East of England: Government regional office.

GPDO

Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.

Green tourism

Responsible travel to natural areas which improves the welfare of local people. This includes both the travel to and accommodation at natural or wild areas with the purpose of viewing and appreciating wildlife, and the management of such travel to ensure that it supports conservation and benefits local communities.

Greenfield sites

Land that has not been developed.

High Tech uses

These include offices, research and development, electronics, precision engineering, pharmaceuticals and biochemistry.

Home zones

Home Zones strike a balance between traffic and everyone else who uses the street, the pedestrians, cyclists, business people and residents. Home Zones work by physically altering streets and roads in an area, forcing motorists to drive with greater care and at lower speeds. Home Zones often have a 10 miles an hour speed limit.

Housing provision

The number of new dwellings which must be provided for within the time period of, or specified by the Structure Plan.

Indicative Flood Plain Maps

Maps produced annually by the Environment Agency to show the extent of areas at risk from tidal and fluvial flooding. They do not show flood defences. These maps are a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Infilling

Development that takes place between existing uses and buildings within the existing built up area.

Informal recreation space

Areas of open space for a non-specific recreational function, e.g. Promenade Park, Burnham-on-Crouch Country Park.

In situ

In its original position.

Intensification

The process of raising housing densities in urban areas through redevelopment, infill development, conversions or change of an existing land use.

Joint Structure Plan Authorities (JSPA)

Essex County Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council are the JSPA for Essex, with responsibility for producing the Structure Plan.

Landscape buffer (strip)

An area of landscaping, often raised, between two different land uses to reduce the impact of one on the other, to differentiate between the two or to improve the environmental quality of the area.

Landscape capacity

The ability of a landscape type to absorb development.

Landscape Character Assessment (LCA)

A survey of the landscape to identify the development capacity of different types of landscape, and appropriate maintenance and enhancement measures. Will supersede SLAs.

Leisure Plots

Small parcels of land owned by individuals, used for recreation and as a means to obtain access to the countryside.

Light contour map

Map showing light intensity generated by the light source.

Listed building

A building officially recognised as having special historical or architectural interest and therefore protected from demolition or alteration.

Living over the shop (LOTS)

Where disused or underused upper floors above shops are converted to flats, whilst leaving the ground floor for retail use.

Local (Shopping) Centre

Small grouping or parade of shops, usually comprising a newsagent, grocery store, post office etc.

Local Nature Reserve (LNR)

Habitats of local significance, designated as LNR by Local Authorities.

Local Plan

Development Plan for a District or Borough area, containing detailed planning policies, proposals and maps; guides most day-to-day planning decisions.

Local Plan Inquiry

A formal public hearing, where a Planning Inspector considers the objections to the draft Local Plan. May result in changes or modifications to the Plan.

Local Planning Authority

The local authority responsible for planning matters in its area. Essex County Council and Maldon District Council are both Local Planning Authorities.

LOIS

LOIS is a study of travel and transport issues between London and Ipswich. It will result in the development of a recommended strategy to improve travel in the area in the short-term and to meet needs over the next thirty years.

Maldon Conservation Area Partnership Scheme

1998-2001 a partnership between Maldon District Council, English Heritage and Essex County Council providing grant aid for improvement works within the Conservation Area, e.g. restoration of listed buildings, enhancement of shop fronts, alley way improvements.

Maldon District Economic Development Strategy

Explains the activities that the District Council intends to undertake in 2001/2 for the development and promotion of employment and the provision of advice/support to the local business community.

Maldon District Playing Pitch Strategy

Consists of a summary of grass sport pitch provision in Maldon District and methods of tackling the identified shortfalls in provision.

Maldon Riverside Area

An area on the edge of Maldon identified on the proposals map, that is protected from development for its importance to the setting of the town.

Maldon Town Centre Improvement Scheme

An agreed strategy (adopted 1999) for the improvement of traffic management and the environment of Maldon town centre, including improved pavements, pedestrian crossing points, traffic management and traffic calming.

Maldon Waterside Uses Area

An area of land on the south bank of the Blackwater, identified on the Local Plan map for river/water-related business and leisure uses.

Managed retreat/ coastal realignment

Moving the existing defence line landward in a controlled manner. Sea defences are deliberately breached, to allow the sea to flood the land behind the sea wall, creating salt marsh, which is a form of natural flood defence. Also referred to as soft engineering methods of flood defence.

Material planning consideration

Any consideration that relates to the use and development of land is capable of being a material planning consideration. These include PPG, SPG, or other considerations that outweigh the planning objections to a proposal. Material planning considerations do not have the same weight as an adopted Local Plan.

Minerals Local Plan

Contains policies that provide for the supply of minerals. Produced by the county planning authorities.

Mixed use

A site that has more than one use on it, e.g. retail, residential, business, leisure etc. LOTS is a form of mixed-use development.

National Cycle Network

The National Cycle Network is a Millennium Commission project supported by �43.5m of National Lottery funds. It is a national network of cycle routes, which will provide10, 000 miles of continuous traffic-free cycle routes and traffic-calmed and minor roads, running right through urban centres and reaching all parts of the UK. The route from Harwich links Colchester, Maldon, Chelmsford and Harlow.

National Nature Reserve (NNR)

Designated for the national or international importance of their flora and fauna, geological or physiological features. NNRs are primarily used for nature conservation.

National Playing Fields Association (NPFA)

National organisation with specific responsibility for acquiring, protecting and improving playing fields, playgrounds and playspace.

Natural surveillance

Area which are overlooked from public or private areas.

NPFA "6 acre standard"

The NPFA minimum standard for outdoor playing space is 6 acres/2.43ha per 1000 population.

Other formal recreation space

Areas for particular recreation or sport activities, which are not provided on playing pitches, e.g. tennis, netball, basketball.

Out commuting

Persons who reside in the District but travel outside its boundaries to their place of work.

Outline planning application

Planning application that contains few details beyond the general proposed use of the land. Used to establish the principle of development on a site. Details of the proposal are submitted later as "reserved matters" which must be approved by the Local Planning Authority before development can take place.

Out-of-centre

A location that is clearly separate from a town centre, but not necessarily outside the urban area. Used in relation to retail development.

Out-of-town

An out-of-centre development on a greenfield site, or on land not clearly within the current urban boundary. Used in relation to retail development.

Permitted development

Development that does not require planning permission, e.g. small domestic extensions.

Planning conditions

Conditions placed upon planning permission to ensure that the development is acceptable. These can include design details, a time limit for commencing the development, limits on the use of the land or building etc.

Planning enforcement

Local Planning Authorities have powers to exercise effective and appropriate enforcement action to ensure that planning permissions and Local Plan policies are being adhered to and to stop unauthorised development.

Planning gain

Community benefit that is directly related to a particular development that results from development and is paid for by the developer, for example, public open space, social housing, roads, etc. Usually set out in a section 106 agreement.

Planning Inquiry

A formal appeal hearing into any planning decision a Local Planning Authority makes in respect of any planning related application made to them e.g. when a planning application is refused planning permission.

Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG)

Government guidance on planning policy issues. There are 25 PPGs on different planning topics.

Playing pitches

Playing fields specifically for the playing of pitch sports, e.g. football, cricket, rugby, hockey.

Precautionary approach

Taking action now to avoid possible environmental damage when the scientific evidence is inconclusive but he potential damage could be great.

Prior Notification (PN)

In some cases, the permitted development rights for agricultural development cannot be exercised unless the developer has applied (prior notification) to the Local Planning Authority for a determination as to whether their prior approval is required.

Protected Lane

Ancient lanes identified by Essex County Council, protected for their historical and wildlife value.

Public domain

Areas to which the public have unrestricted access.

Public Rights Of Way Definitive Map

Definitive maps are the legal record of the public's rights of way and are maintained by Essex County Council.

Ramsar site

A statutory designation identifying Wetlands of International Importance. Internationally important nature conservation site for wetland birds.

Red Data Book

Contains factual information on the rarest and most threatened animals and plants. Produced at international, national and more recently at county level, they help to define species most in need of protection.

Regional Planning Guidance (RPG)

Contains strategic planning policies and a key diagram for the whole of the region. RPG9 covers Essex.

Register of Historic Parks and Gardens

English Heritage compiles the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, which identifies those parks and gardens of national importance.

Renewable energy

Sources of natural energy that never run out: wind, water, solar, geothermal and biofuels (wood & other crops). Most commonly associated with solar panels, wind turbines and hydroelectric power stations.

Replacement dwelling

A dwelling built to replace an existing dwelling in the countryside.

Replacement Structure Plan (RSP)

Contains strategic policies and key diagram for the whole county. The Essex and Southend-on-Sea Replacement Structure Plan, adopted in April 2001, is produced by the JSPAs. It is a 15-year land use planning strategy (1996-2011) and forms part of the statutory Development Plan within Essex.

Reserved matters

The details of a proposed development, which relate to an outline planning permission already granted. The Local Planning Authority must approve the reserved matters before development can take place.

Retail Park

Out-of-centre or out-of-town retail development consisting of a number of retail warehouses.

Retained fire station

A fire station that is not manned. The firemen are part-time and are called into the station from their other occupations when there is a fire.

Revised Deposit

A revised version of a draft Local Plan, which may include amendments suggested by objectors to the First Deposit version. It is subject to a 6 week public consultation period.

Riding establishments

Stables that hire out horses or ponies for riding or tuition.

Riparian

Situated on the bank of a river; relating to the legal rights of the owner of land on a riverbank, such as fishing or irrigation.

Rural diversification

Process by which additional economic activities are undertaken to that of the traditional uses of agricultural land or farm buildings, ensuring the future of rural economies.

Scheduled Ancient Monument

An ancient structure, above or below ground, of national importance and included on the Secretary of State's Schedule described in Part 1 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

Section 105 maps

Maps produced by the Environment Agency to show the extent of areas at risk from tidal and fluvial flooding. These maps are a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Section 106 agreement

An agreement entered into between a landowner and the Local Planning Authority, whereby the landowner undertakes to do specific actions in relation to the development the section 106 agreement relates to. This could cover, for example, providing public open space or agreeing the detailed use of the land. Also called a planning obligation. The obligation must be necessary to make the proposal acceptable in land-use planning terms.

Secured by Design

Secured by Design is the UK Police flagship initiative supporting the principles of designing out crime. It is an initiative to encourage the building industry to adopt crime prevention measures to assist in reducing the opportunity for crime and the fear of crime, creating a safer and more secure environment.

Sequential test

A key element of PPG6. The sequential test is a hierarchy of preferred locations for development. Originally applied to retail development - whereby the town centre is the preferred location for retail and other town centre uses - it now also applies to other forms of development, including leisure, housing and employment.

Settlement policy

The policy for residential development in the Local Plan. It restricts housing development to within existing built up areas except for specific types of residential development, e.g. agricultural workers dwellings.

Shop fascia

The flat surface above a shop window; usually has the shop name on it.

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Designated for the national importance of their biological, geological or physiographical features. SSSIs represent a cross-section of Britain's natural features.

Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

European designation intended to protect the habitats of threatened species of wildlife. Where a SAC has yet to be designated, it is referred to as a candidate SAC (cSAC) and is protected to the same level as a designated site.

Special Landscape Area (SLA)

County and District level designations for locally important landscapes.

Special Protection Area (SPA)

European designation for an area of international importance for wild birds.

Sport England

Sport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council, which is the distributor of Lottery funds to sport and is responsible for developing and maintaining the infrastructure of sport in England.

sui generis

Unique, of its own kind. Used in planning to describe a land use that cannot be categorised into the use classes order.

Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG)

Additional, more detailed guidance for the implementation of Local Plan policies. SPG can also be documents produced by other organisations, e.g. The Essex Design Guide. SPG does not have the weight of an adopted Local Plan, but is a material consideration in determining planning applications.

Sustainable development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The Strategy for Sustainable Development in the UK (1999) is based on four broad objectives:

• Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment
• Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone
• Effective protection of the environment
• Prudent use of natural resources

Sustainable construction techniques

Environmentally friendly methods of construction. These include designing "green" or eco-friendly buildings, using locally sourced, non-toxic materials, reusing or recycling materials, employing local builders, managing the construction site to minimise construction waste, installing high-efficiency appliances and landscaping the finished development.

Sustrans

Sustrans (sustainable transport) is a charity working on practical projects to encourage people to walk and cycle more. Sustrans' flagship project is the National Cycle Network.

Telecommunication development

The erection or installation of telecommunication equipment, including mobile phone masts, radio, television and satellite broadcasting equipment, cable connections, satellite receiving dishes and roof top aerials. Not all telecommunication development requires planning permission.

Tidal flooding

Flooding from the sea.

Town centre

A city or town centre which provides a broad range of facilities and services, which fulfils a function as a focus for both the community and for public transport. Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch have town centres.

Town centre uses

Uses of land & buildings appropriate to a town centre location, e.g. retail & service uses, employment, leisure, entertainment, restaurants, culture, public car parking.

Town/District Centre Health Check

A method by which the retail "health" of a town centre is assessed. Looks at retailer representation, proportion of vacant street property, state of the town centre environment, rate and pattern of change, etc.

Transpiration

Loss of water through plant leaves.

Travel Assessment

Travel assessments are used to assess the transport implications of (usually) large developments. It investigates the accessibility of the new development by different forms of transport and proposes measures to improve access by public transport, walking and cycling, with the aim of reducing the effects of traffic generated by the development.

Travel Plan / Green Transport Plan

A package of practical measures to encourage staff and visitors to choose alternatives to single-occupancy car-use, and to reduce the need to travel by car. A plan is tailored to a particular site and includes a range of measures that will make a positive impact, e.g. setting up a car sharing scheme; providing cycle facilities; negotiating improved bus services etc. The idea is to make travel alternatives more feasible and more attractive to employees.

Tree Preservation Order (TPO)

A protective order placed on an individual tree or group of trees (including woodlands) to protect them from felling or damaging pruning work.

Unimplemented

Local Plan allocation or planning permission that has not been developed.

Urban Capacity Study

A survey to identify sources of housing land within existing built up areas.

Urbanisation

To make a rural area more industrialised and urban.

Use Classes Order

Different uses of land or buildings are categorised within "use classes" in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, as amended. The use classes A and B are described elsewhere in this glossary.

Utilities

Water supplies, sewage disposal, gas, electricity, telecommunications etc.

Vitality and viability of town centres

The phrase relates to the economic health of town centres as defined in PPG6.

Waste Local Plan

Development plan containing detailed land use policies and proposals for deciding planning applications associated with the deposit, treatment, storage, processing and disposal of refuse or waste materials. Produced by the county planning authorities.

Water minimisation/ conservation

A range of ways to reduce water consumption, for example, water meters, installation of showers instead of baths, low flow taps, dual flush toilets, grey-water systems, water butts etc.

Wildlife Sites (WS)

County level nature conservation designation. Formerly called Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).