Local Plan Glossary

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Glossary

Sometimes we use terms and phrases that may not be familiar to everyone. This is because there are specific terms commonly used in planning that some people, mainly those familiar with planning terminology, will know and use. We have provided a short glossary to help explain some less well-known terms.


Affordable housing – housing that a household can afford to pay for while still affording other necessities. Affordable housing can be rented or owned (in full or in part) and is provided outside the general housing market i.e. it is not available to households who can meet their own housing needs without support or subsidy.

Brownfield – land that has already been developed and has building(s) or structure(s) that are in use, or have been used in the past, for example warehouses, offices, or houses. The area classed as brownfield does not always include all the land around the building/structure, for example a field around a warehouse would not be brownfield (but the warehouse and the roads etc around it, would be brownfield)

Carbon neutral – reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) released into the earth’s atmosphere as much as possible to achieve no additional (or zero) emissions where possible. Our emissions come from activities such as heating our homes, and workplaces; driving cars and travelling on trains and planes; and making things like steel.

Climate change – increasing temperature of the earth and the earth’s atmosphere (also called the Greenhouse Effect) caused by higher carbon dioxide emissions from our activities. Higher temperatures can have severe effects for example extreme weather and melting ice in the polar regions.

Climate emergency – the urgent world-wide need to take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions to protect the earth, resources, and ourselves from potentially irreversible damage that is being caused by ongoing climate change. Cheshire West and Chester Council declared, on 21 May, that the borough is in a climate emergency.

CO2 – a gas called carbon dioxide. It is a greenhouse gas that is found in the atmosphere and contributes towards global warming and climate change by increasing the temperature of the atmosphere and the earth. CO2 is released through natural events for example the eruption of a volcano, and people breathing (respiration); and human activities for example cutting down forests, burning fossil fuels, and travel.

Conservation area – an area that is identified by a Council because of the need to protect a special characteristic(s) relating to architecture, historic interest, the character and appearance, of that specific place/space.

Green Belt – an area of land around specific towns and cities that is protected from many types of development so that cities/towns do not merge, and do not sprawl into the countryside. The Green Belt cannot be changed unless there are exceptional circumstances, and these changes should be made through the Local Plan.

Green economy or green jobs – Jobs in the low carbon and renewable energy industries that are engaged in producing goods and services for protecting the environment, as well as conserving and maintaining natural resources.

Green space – an area of grass, trees or other plants etc generally in an urban area that may be used for recreation, and/or to make an area look more pleasant. Green spaces include parks, community gardens, and cemeteries.

Listed building – a building that has special features, architectural interest and/or historical interest, and considered to be of national importance and worth protecting. These buildings and structures are included on the National Heritage List for England.

Local Plan – The plan for the future development of the local area, drawn up by Council in consultation with the community, setting out a framework for the future development of an area for at least the next 15 years. Local plans are also the starting point for considering whether planning applications should be approved.

Natural environment – all living and natural things for example fields, meadows and woodlands; ponds, rivers and lakes; animals, birds and insects living in natural habitats.

Built environment – our surroundings created by and for our use for example neighbourhoods, buildings and roads; parks, sporting and leisure venues; and roads, underground pipes, and internet networks.

Protected habitat – land that is home to specific, sensitive and important species and is protected in order to minimise development of the area and reduce loss or harm to the area.

Protected species – identified species of animal or plant that, by law, must not be harmed or destroyed

Sustainable transport – ways to travel to and from a place without causing harm to the environment, to the climate, and to people around you for example reducing the use of petrol/diesel vehicles; walking or using bicycles or scooters; and travelling via public transport.

Glossary

Sometimes we use terms and phrases that may not be familiar to everyone. This is because there are specific terms commonly used in planning that some people, mainly those familiar with planning terminology, will know and use. We have provided a short glossary to help explain some less well-known terms.


Affordable housing – housing that a household can afford to pay for while still affording other necessities. Affordable housing can be rented or owned (in full or in part) and is provided outside the general housing market i.e. it is not available to households who can meet their own housing needs without support or subsidy.

Brownfield – land that has already been developed and has building(s) or structure(s) that are in use, or have been used in the past, for example warehouses, offices, or houses. The area classed as brownfield does not always include all the land around the building/structure, for example a field around a warehouse would not be brownfield (but the warehouse and the roads etc around it, would be brownfield)

Carbon neutral – reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) released into the earth’s atmosphere as much as possible to achieve no additional (or zero) emissions where possible. Our emissions come from activities such as heating our homes, and workplaces; driving cars and travelling on trains and planes; and making things like steel.

Climate change – increasing temperature of the earth and the earth’s atmosphere (also called the Greenhouse Effect) caused by higher carbon dioxide emissions from our activities. Higher temperatures can have severe effects for example extreme weather and melting ice in the polar regions.

Climate emergency – the urgent world-wide need to take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions to protect the earth, resources, and ourselves from potentially irreversible damage that is being caused by ongoing climate change. Cheshire West and Chester Council declared, on 21 May, that the borough is in a climate emergency.

CO2 – a gas called carbon dioxide. It is a greenhouse gas that is found in the atmosphere and contributes towards global warming and climate change by increasing the temperature of the atmosphere and the earth. CO2 is released through natural events for example the eruption of a volcano, and people breathing (respiration); and human activities for example cutting down forests, burning fossil fuels, and travel.

Conservation area – an area that is identified by a Council because of the need to protect a special characteristic(s) relating to architecture, historic interest, the character and appearance, of that specific place/space.

Green Belt – an area of land around specific towns and cities that is protected from many types of development so that cities/towns do not merge, and do not sprawl into the countryside. The Green Belt cannot be changed unless there are exceptional circumstances, and these changes should be made through the Local Plan.

Green economy or green jobs – Jobs in the low carbon and renewable energy industries that are engaged in producing goods and services for protecting the environment, as well as conserving and maintaining natural resources.

Green space – an area of grass, trees or other plants etc generally in an urban area that may be used for recreation, and/or to make an area look more pleasant. Green spaces include parks, community gardens, and cemeteries.

Listed building – a building that has special features, architectural interest and/or historical interest, and considered to be of national importance and worth protecting. These buildings and structures are included on the National Heritage List for England.

Local Plan – The plan for the future development of the local area, drawn up by Council in consultation with the community, setting out a framework for the future development of an area for at least the next 15 years. Local plans are also the starting point for considering whether planning applications should be approved.

Natural environment – all living and natural things for example fields, meadows and woodlands; ponds, rivers and lakes; animals, birds and insects living in natural habitats.

Built environment – our surroundings created by and for our use for example neighbourhoods, buildings and roads; parks, sporting and leisure venues; and roads, underground pipes, and internet networks.

Protected habitat – land that is home to specific, sensitive and important species and is protected in order to minimise development of the area and reduce loss or harm to the area.

Protected species – identified species of animal or plant that, by law, must not be harmed or destroyed

Sustainable transport – ways to travel to and from a place without causing harm to the environment, to the climate, and to people around you for example reducing the use of petrol/diesel vehicles; walking or using bicycles or scooters; and travelling via public transport.