A glossary has been added utilising the latest definitions held within the adopted Development Plan. The aim is to provide definitions for key terms used within the consultation to improve public engagement. The Council is not bound by these definitions when drafting policies and it may be beneficial to utilise alternatives at that stage.
Affordable housing
homes based on social rent levels, including Social Rent, London Affordable Rent, London Living Rent and London Shared Ownership as defined in the London Plan.
Air Quality Neutral
An Air Quality Neutral development is one that meets, or improves upon, the air quality neutral benchmarks published in guidance from the GLA. The benchmarks set out the maximum allowable emissions of NOx and Particulate Matter based on the size and use class of the proposed development. Separate benchmarks are set out for emissions arising from the development and from transport associated with the development. Air Quality Neutral applies only to the completed development and does not include impacts arising from construction, which should be separately assessed in the Air Quality Assessment.
Air Quality Management Area
An area which a local authority had designated for action, based upon a prediction that Air Quality Objectives will be exceeded.
Biodiversity
This refers to the variety of plants and animals and other living things in a particular area or region. It encompasses habitat diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity.
Data centre
A building used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. Data centres are generally developed in industrial premises and locations.
Digital Infrastructure
Infrastructure, such as small cell antenna and ducts for cables, that supports fixed and mobile connectivity and therefore underpins smart technologies.
Geodiversity
The variety of rocks, fossils, minerals, landforms, soils and natural processes, such as weathering, erosion and sedimentation, that underlie and determine the character of our natural landscape and environment.
Green infrastructure
Comprises the network of parks, rivers, water spaces and green spaces, plus the green elements of the built environment, such as street trees, green roofs and sustainable drainage systems, all of which provide a wide range of benefits and services.
Heritage assets
Valued components of the historic environment. They include buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas or landscapes positively identified as having a degree of historic significance meriting consideration in planning decisions. They include both designated heritage assets and non-designated assets where these have been identified by a local authority (including local listing) during the process of decision-making or plan making.
Permitted Development Rights
A general planning permission granted not by the local authority but by Parliament. Legislation (currently the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development (England) Order 2015) sets out classes of development for which a grant of planning permission is automatically given, provided that no restrictive condition is attached or that the development is exempt from the permitted development rights.
Previously Developed Land
Land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land (although it should not be assumed that the whole of the curtilage should be developed) and any associated fixed surface infrastructure. This excludes: land that is or has been occupied by agricultural or forestry buildings; land that has been developed for minerals extraction or waste disposal by landfill purposes where provision for restoration has been made through development control procedures; land in built-up areas such as private residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments; and land that was previously-developed but where the remains of the permanent structure or fixed surface structure have blended into the landscape in the process of time.
Public realm
Publicly accessible space between and around buildings, including streets, squares, forecourts, parks and open spaces.
Public Transport Access Levels (PTALs)
Public Transport Access Levels (PTALs) are calculated across London using a grid of points at 100m intervals. For each point walk time to the public transport network is combined with service wait time (frequency) to give a measure of public transport network density.
Strategic Industrial Locations
London’s largest concentrations of industrial, logistics and related capacity for uses that support the functioning of London’s economy.
Urban greening
Describes the act of adding green infrastructure elements Due to the morphology and density of the built environment in London, green roofs, street trees, and additional vegetation are the most appropriate elements of green infrastructure in the city.