Accessible/Adaptable buildings: in the context of this scoping consultation, this tends to refer to the categories of Part M of the Buildings Regulations which aim to deliver inclusive design by setting out the minimum requirements for accessibility. Part M applies to new buildings and major alterations to existing buildings. ‘Category 2’ standards seek to deliver buildings that are accessible to people who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids. They can also be adapted over time to meet the needs of people with other disabilities. ‘Category 3’ buildings are designed specifically for people who use wheelchairs. They have wider doorways, lower counters, and other features that make them easier to use.
Affordable housing: housing for sale or rent, for those whose needs are not met by the market (including housing that provides a subsidised route to home ownership and/or is for essential local workers); and which complies with one or more of the following definitions:
(a) Social Rent: meets all of the following conditions: (a) the rent is set in accordance with the Government’s rent policy for Social Rent; (b) the landlord is a registered provider; and (c) it includes provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision.
(b) Other affordable housing for rent: meets all of the following conditions: (a) the rent is set in accordance with the Government’s rent policy for Affordable Rent, or is at least 20% below local market rents (including service charges where applicable); (b) the landlord is a registered provider, except where it is included as part of a Build to Rent scheme (in which case the landlord need not be a registered provider); and (c) it includes provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision. For Build to Rent schemes affordable housing for rent is expected to be the normal form of affordable housing provision (and, in this context, is known as Affordable Private Rent).
(c) Discounted market sales housing: is that sold at a discount of at least 20% below local market value. Eligibility is determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices. Provisions should be in place to ensure housing remains at a discount for future eligible households.
(d) Other affordable routes to home ownership: is housing provided for sale that provides a route to ownership for those who could not achieve home ownership through the market. It includes shared ownership, relevant equity loans, other low cost homes for sale (at a price equivalent to at least 20% below local market value) and rent to buy (which includes a period of intermediate rent). Where public grant funding is provided, there should be provisions for the homes to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for any receipts to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision, or refunded to Government or the relevant authority specified in the funding agreement.
(e) Military affordable housing: meets various conditions including to remain as affordable housing for future eligible households, service personnel and veteran households, or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision.
Agent of change principle: decisions should ensure that new development can be integrated effectively with existing businesses and community facilities (such as places of worship, pubs, music venues and sports clubs). Existing businesses and facilities should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result of development permitted after they were established. Where the operation of an existing business or community facility could have a significant adverse effect on new development (including changes of use) in its vicinity, the applicant (or ‘agent of change’) should be required to provide suitable mitigation before the development has been completed.
Article 4 Direction: made by the local planning authority to restrict the scope of permitted development rights either in relation to a particular area or site, or a particular type of development anywhere in the local planning authority's area. Permitted development rights allow certain types of development to be carried out without needing to apply for planning permission.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): an approach to development introduced by the Environment Act 2021. Developers must deliver a BNG of 10% in certain circumstances, to ensure that a development will result in more and/or better quality natural habitat than there was before development.
Climate change adaptation: Adjustments made to natural or human systems in response to the actual or anticipated impacts of climate change, to mitigate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.
Climate change mitigation: Action to reduce the impact of human activity on the climate system, primarily through reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Design code: A set of illustrated design requirements that provide specific, detailed parameters for the physical development of a site, or area. The graphic and written components of the code should build upon a design vision, such as a masterplan or other design and development framework for a site or area. ‘Model Design Codes’ refer to standard design requirements published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for common development types that can be used and adopted locally.
Design guide: A document providing guidance on how development can be carried out in accordance with good design practice, often produced by a local authority.
Fluvial flooding: occurs when the volume of water in a watercourse exceeds its capacity, causing it to overflow onto low-lying adjacent land.
Green infrastructure: A network of multi-functional green and blue spaces and other natural features, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental, economic, health and wellbeing benefits for nature, climate, local and wider communities and prosperity. It includes parks and gardens, green spaces, green corridors such as rivers and canals, sustainable drainage systems, features for species, street trees and community orchards.
Grey belt: For the purposes of plan-making and decision-making, ‘grey belt’ is defined as land in the Green Belt comprising previously developed land and/or any other land that, in either case, does not strongly contribute to any of purposes (a), (b), or (d) in paragraph 143 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). ‘Grey belt’ excludes land where the application of the policies relating to the areas or assets in footnote 7 of the NPPF (other than Green Belt) would provide a strong reason for refusing or restricting development.
Functional floodplain: A functional floodplain (or Flood Zone 3b) is land that naturally stores or flows with water during flood events, typically having an annual probability of flooding of 5% (1-in-20) or higher. It is safeguarded from development to provide essential flood water storage and reduce risks to downstream areas.
Local Nature Recovery Strategies: A system of spatial strategies for nature and environmental improvement required by law under s.104 of the Environment Act 2021.
The Surrey LNRS has been published and will be delivered by a range of stakeholders across Surrey.
Main town centre uses: Retail development (including warehouse clubs and factory outlet centres); leisure, entertainment and more intensive sport and recreation uses (including cinemas, restaurants, drive-through restaurants, bars and pubs, nightclubs, casinos, health and fitness centres, indoor bowling centres and bingo halls); banks; professional services; offices; and arts, culture and tourism development (including theatres, museums, galleries and concert halls, hotels and conference facilities).
Nature based solutions: Actions which use natural processes to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges, benefiting both people and nature, such as the creation of woodlands or wetlands.
Sequential test for flood risk: the aim of the sequential test is to steer development to areas with the lowest risk of flooding from any source. Where the test applies, development proposals should not be located in areas at risk of flooding where alternative sites, appropriate for the development, are reasonably available in areas with a lower risk of flooding.
Spatial development strategy (SDS): A plan containing policies on the development and use of land on matters of strategic importance to the area prepared by strategic planning authorities and the Mayor of London.
Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG): an area of land designated for recreational purposes that is designed to offset disturbance and pressures on sites that are protected for their habitat value under Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended), such as the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area. New housing, with an associated increase in footfall, can put pressure on these valuable habitats. SANGs are designed to absorb the pressures from new residential development by providing a preferred alternative for people to enjoy.
Surface water (pluvial) flooding: occurs when rainfall cannot drain away quickly enough through the ground, drainage systems or nearby watercourses. Instead, water flows across the surface of the ground or collects in low-lying areas.
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