Glossary

Here are the meanings of some of the common terms used in the land investment industry:

Accessibility

The ability of people to move around an area and reach places and facilities, including elderly and disabled people, those with young children and those encumbered with luggage or shopping.

Adopted Proposals Map

A component of a Local Development Framework and an important part of the development plan, or DPD itself, showing the location of proposals in all current Development Plan Documents, on an Ordnance Survey base map.

Area Action Plan

A type of Development Plan Document focused upon a specific location or an area subject to conservation or significant change (for example major regeneration).

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

An area with statutory national landscape designation, the primary purpose of which is to conserve and enhance natural beauty. Together with National Parks, AONB’s represent the nation's finest landscapes. AONB’s are designated by the Countryside Agency.

Barker Review (Housing Supply)

Kate Barker review of housing supply commissioned by HM Treasury and what was the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: "Delivering stability: securing our future housing needs", March 2004.

Barker Review (Land Use Planning)

Kate Barker review of land use planning that focused on the link between planning and economic growth: "Barker Review of Land Use Planning", December 2006.

Brownfield

A site that has previously been developed. Brownfield sites may have been used for a wide variety of former activities including: commercial buildings, housing, industry, airfields, parks and so on. These sites may even be still in use and are not necessarily ready for development.

Brief / Planning Brief

A planning brief can include site-specific development briefs, design briefs, development frameworks and master plans that seek to positively shape future development.

CABE

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. A public body acting as a champion of good design in England.

'Call-in' or Called-in Planning Application

The Secretary of State can "call in" certain planning applications that local authorities propose to approve. For example, where it may have wider effects beyond the immediate locality, significant regional or national controversy, or potential conflict with national policy. These will then be subject to a public inquiry presided over by a Planning Inspector who will make recommendation to the Secretary of State who will decide the application instead of the local planning authority.

Capital

The amount of money you invest is usually referred to as your capital.

Capital Gain

The amount your investment increases during the period of investment.

Change of Use

A change in the way that land or buildings are used (see Use Classes Order). Planning permission is usually necessary in order to change from one 'use class' to another.

Clawback Covenant

A legal arrangement that allows a former owner to maintain a financial interest in a piece of land. It will entitle them to some of the proceed of a subsequent sale.

Code for Sustainable Homes

A new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes launched in December 2006.

Contract for Sale

This is the name of the legal document that covers any land sale in the UK.

Communities and Local Government

'Communities and Local Government' is the successor department to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). It is an expanded department with a powerful new remit to promote community cohesion and equality, as well as responsibility for housing, urban regeneration, planning and local government

Core strategy

A Development Plan Document setting out the spatial vision and strategic objectives of the planning framework for an area, having regard to the Community Strategy (see also DPDs).

Countryside Agency

The organisation responsible for advising government and taking action on issues affecting the social, economic and environmental well being of the English countryside.

Covenant

Covenant is another word for an obligation on the part of an individual which is defined in a legal document. In UK land, covenants often appear on title deeds and prohibit certain uses of that land.

Deeds

These are the ownership documents issued by the Office of H.M. Land Registry. These are now in a downloadable format from www.landregistry.gov.uk

Delegated Powers

A power conferred to designated planning officers by locally elected councillors so that the officers may take decisions on specified planning matters behalf of the council.

Density

When referring to UK land, density describes the number of buildings (usually homes) per acre.

Depreciation

The reduction in the value of an item over time.

Detailed Application / Full application

A planning application seeking full permission for a development proposal, with no matters reserved for later planning approval.

Development Plan Documents (DPDs)

Development Plan Documents are prepared by local planning authorities and outline the key development goals of the local development framework. Development Plan Documents include the core strategy, site-specific allocations of land and, where needed, area action plans. There will also be an adopted proposals map which illustrates the spatial extent of policies that must be prepared and maintained to accompany all DPDs. All DPDs must be subject to rigorous procedures of community involvement, consultation and independent examination, and adopted after receipt of the inspector's binding report. Once adopted, development control decisions must be made in accordance with them unless material considerations indicate otherwise. DPDs form an essential part of the Local Development Framework.

DPP

Detailed planning permission

Eco-towns

They will meet the highest standards of sustainability, including low and zero carbon technologies and quality public transport systems. They will make use of brownfield land and surplus public sector land where practical and lead the way in design, facilities and services, and community involvement

English Partnerships(E.P)

The national regeneration support high quality sustainable growth in England

Environment Agency

A government body that aims to prevent or minimise the effects of pollution on the environment and issues permits to monitor and control activities that handle or produce waste. It also provides up-to-date information on waste management matters and deals with other matters such as water issues including flood protection advice.

First Secretary Of State

The lead Minister for all policies relating to Town & Country Planning, having powers of intervention on Development Plans and Planning Casework under certain circumstances.

Flood plain

Generally low-lying areas adjacent to a watercourse, tidal lengths of a river or the sea, where water flows in times of flood or would flow but for the presence of flood defences.

Freehold

The title deeds of your land can be subject to different terms, freehold means that you have absolute ownership of the land as opposed to Leasehold where you are in effect renting it for an extended period.

General Permitted Development Order (GPDO)

A set of regulations made by the government which grants planning permission for specified limited or minor forms of development.

Green Belt

Areas of land usually around towns and cities that are currently protected from development, although the Government is currently reviewing this policy.

Greenfield

An undeveloped site that maybe ready for development.

H. M. Land Registry

The UK government body responsible for tracking ownership of the land.

High demand housing areas

Locations with a high demand for housing resulting in expensive pricing and rents making it difficult to enter the housing market. For example, some rural locations, commuter areas, and many locations in southern England

Informal Hearing

A planning appeal hearing undertaken in a structured way, but without the full formality of a local inquiry.

Inspectorate's Report

A report issued by an planning inspector regarding the planning issues debated at the independent examination of a development plan or a planning inquiry. Reports into Development Plan Documents (DPDs) will be binding upon local authorities. Issues, Options and Preferred Options The "pre-submission" consultation stages on Development Plan Documents with the objective of gaining public consensus over proposals ahead of submission to government for independent examination

Judicial Review

A procedure by which the High Court may review the reasonableness of decisions made by local authorities, the first Secretary of State or lower courts, for example a planning decision.

Key Worker Living

A Government scheme running since 2004 helping key workers in London, the South East and East of England to buy a home, upgrade to a family home or rent a home at an affordable price. It replaced the Starter Home Initiative (2001-2004) which had similar goals.

Lawful Development Certificate

A certificate issued by a local planning authority, on application, stating that an existing (LDC 191) or proposed use (LDC 192), or other forms of development, can be considered as lawful for planning purposes

Limits of Development

Limits of development identify the area within which development proposals would be acceptable, subject to complying with other policies contained in the Development Plan. They seek to prevent development from gradually extending into the surrounding countryside.

Local Development Documents

LDDs These include Development Plan Documents (which form part of the statutory development plan) and Supplementary Planning Documents (which do not form part of the statutory development plan). LDDs collectively deliver the spatial planning strategy for the local planning authority's area.

Local Development Framework (LDF)

The Local Development Framework (LDF) is a non-statutory term used to describe a folder of documents, which includes all the local planning authority's local development documents.

An LDF is comprised of:

Local Development Order (LDO)

An order made by a local planning authority extending permitted development rights for certain forms of development, with regard to a relevant Local Development Document.

Local Development Scheme (LDS

The local planning authority's time-scaled programme for the preparation of Local Development Documents that must be agreed with government and reviewed every year.

Localism Bill

Coalition Government legislation which includes the Right to Build.

Local Need Housing

Housing requirements generated by the indigenous population rather than by in-migration

Local Plan

An old-style development plan prepared by district and other local planning authorities. These plans will continue to operate for a time after the commencement of the new development plan system, by virtue of specific transitional provisions.

Local Transport Plan

A five-year integrated transport strategy, prepared by local authorities in partnership with the community, seeking funding to help provide local transport projects. The plan sets out the resources predicted for delivery of the targets identified in the strategy. Local transport plans should be consistent with the policies and priorities set out in the Regional Transport Strategy as an integral part of the Regional Spatial Strategy.

Master Plan

A type of planning brief outlining the preferred usage of land and the overall approach to the layout of a developer. To provide detailed guidance for subsequent planning applications

Mixed use (or mixed use) development

Provision of a mix of complementary uses, such as residential, community and leisure uses, on a site or within a particular area

Nature Conservation

The protection, management and promotion of wildlife habitat for the benefit of wild species, as well as the communities that use and enjoy them.

OPP - Outline planning permission.

Open Countryside

Open farmland and fields that doesn't have the infrastructure nearby that is needed for development.

Planning Inspectorate

The Planning Inspectorate is the government body responsible for:

Planning Permission

Formal approval sought from a council, often granted with conditions, allowing a proposed development to proceed. Permission may be sought in principle through outline planning applications, or be sought in detail through full planning applications

Planning Policy Guidance (PPG)

Issued by central government setting out its national land use policies for England on different areas of planning. These are gradually being replaced by Planning Policy Statements

Planning Portal

A national website provided by the government for members of the public, local planning authorities and planning consultants. The Planning Portal features a wide range of information and services on planning

Planning White Paper

Communities and Local Government publication setting out detailed proposals for reform of the planning system, building on Kate Barker's recommendations for improving the speed, responsiveness and efficiency in land use planning, and taking forward Kate Barker's and Rod Eddington's proposals for reform of major infrastructure planning.

Prior Approval

A procedure where permission is deemed granted if the local planning authority does not respond to the developer's application within a certain time. Often relating to telecommunication or agricultural developments

Regeneration

The economic, social and environmental renewal and improvement of rural and urban areas.

Regional Development Agency (RDA)

The nine Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) set up in the English regions are non-departmental public bodies. Their primary role is as a strategic driver of regional economic development in their region. The RDAs aim is to:

Regional Housing Strategy (RHS)

The regional housing strategy prioritises the housing needs of the region (by locations and/or types of expenditure) to allow decisions to be taken on how housing resources should be allocated within the region. It takes an overall view on regional housing need, housing investment priorities and affordable housing targets. This provides a regional context for local authorities in drawing up their own housing investment strategies and to identify regional priorities for housing investment to be funded through registered social landlords

Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS)

A strategy for how a region should look in 15 to 20 years time and possibly longer. The Regional Spatial Strategy identifies the scale and distribution of new housing in the region, indicates areas for regeneration, expansion or sub-regional planning and specifies priorities for the environment, transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals and waste treatment and disposal. Most former Regional Planning Guidance is now considered RSS and forms part of the development plan. Regional Spatial Strategies are prepared by Regional Planning Bodies.

Regional Transport Strategy

A strategy produced by the Regional Planning Body, informing local transport plans, and providing a strategic overview of transport strategies and investment priorities

Return on investment (ROI)

Similar to Capital Gain, this simply means how much money did you make over and above your original investment. Often described as a % so if you put in £10k and got back £50k you made a 400% return on your original investment.

Re-Zoning

Change in local planning policy which would lead to a successful application for planning permission

Right to Build

Part of the Localism Bill which gives powers to local communities to decide the level and type of development in their areas.

Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)

A professional body furthering the art of town and country planning. Members can be accredited the status of MRTPI.

Rural Exceptions Policy / Site

A development plan or Development Plan Document may allocate small sites within rural areas solely for affordable housing, which would not otherwise be released for general market housing

Section 106 Agreement

A legal agreement under section 106 of the 1990 Town & Country Planning Act. Section 106 agreements are legal agreements between a planning authority and a developer, or undertakings offered unilaterally by a developer, that ensure that certain extra works related to a development are undertaken

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

A site identified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000) as an area of special interest by reason of any of its flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features (basically, plants, animals, and natural features relating to the Earth's structure).

Sustainability Appraisal (including Environmental Appraisal)

An appraisal of the economic, environmental and social effects of a plan from the outset of the preparation process to allow decisions to be made that accord with sustainable development Sustainable Communities Places where people want to live and work, now and in the future Sustainable Communities Plan A programme issued by the government to set the framework for delivering sustainable communities over the next 15-20 years. The main areas of focus are housing supply, new growth areas, decent homes and the countryside and local environment.

Title

In UK law, the Crown ultimately owns all of the land but grants ownership by title to others.

Tree Preservation Order (TPO)

A mechanism for securing the preservation of single or groups of trees of acknowledged amenity value. A tree subject to a tree preservation order may not normally be topped, lopped or felled without the consent of the local planning authority

Urban Capacity Study

Studies undertaken to establish how much additional housing can be accommodated within urban areas

Urban Regeneration

Making an urban area develop or grow strong again through means such as job creation and environmental renewal

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled or unplanned extension of urban areas into the countryside

White land

A general expression used to mean land (and buildings) without any specific proposal for allocation in a development plan, where it is intended that for the most part, existing uses shall remain undisturbed and unaltered.

Wildlife Corridor

Strips of land (for example, along a hedgerow) conserved and managed for wildlife, usually linking more extensive wildlife habitats.

Zero-carbon Home

Over a year, the net carbon emissions from all energy use in the home are zero. This includes energy use from cooking, washing and electronic entertainment appliances as well as space heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and hot water.

Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI)

The visual 'line of sight' or catchment area having the potential to be visually affected by a particular site or structure, such as wind turbines

See Latest Investment Opportunity

Request a login username & password by calling 0845 0943 123 or email info@towersland.co.uk