Glossary of UK land terminology
To help in understanding paperwork and documents, we have put together a glossary of common terms used in the land and property industry. This area will be regularly updated with relevant information about UK land and property, but if you have any other questions then please contact a member of our team for assistance.
A
Adoption - The final confirmation of a plan as a statutory document by the local planning authority.
Area of Special Control of Advertisements -
An area which is specifically defined by the local planning authority because they consider its scenic, historical, architectural or cultural features are so significant that a stricter degree of advertisement control is justified in order to conserve visual amenity within that area. Such areas can only be designated with the approval of the Secretary of State.
Affordable Housing - Low cost housing for sale or rent, often from a housing association, to meet the needs of local people who cannot afford accommodation through the open or low cost market, or subsidised housing.
Agricultural Dwelling - A dwelling which is subject to a condition or legal agreement that it shall only be occupied by someone who is employed or was last employed solely or mainly in agriculture, forestry or other appropriate rural employment.
Amenity - The pleasant or normally satisfactory aspects of a location which contribute to its overall character and the enjoyment of residents or visitors.
Ancillary Use - A subsidiary use connected to the main use of a building or piece of land.
Appeal - The process whereby an applicant can challenge an adverse decision on an application by means of written representations, an informal hearing or formal inquiry proceedings. Appeals can also be made against the failure of the planning authority to issue a decision, against conditions attached to a permission and against the issue of an enforcement notice.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty -
Area designated by the Countryside Agency or the Countryside Council for Wales where the primary purpose is the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty including flora, fauna, geology and landscape.
Article 4 Direction - An order made by the Secretary of State, the National Assembly for Wales or the local planning authority, requiring a planning application to be made where normally permitted development rights would apply.
Article 14 Direction - Issued by the Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales to restrict the grant of planning permission by a local planning authority, either indefinitely or for a specified period, normally to give the Department time to decide whether to call in the application.
B
Back-land - Land which is behind existing development with no, or very limited, road frontage.
BPEO (Best Possible Environmental Option) - The option that provides the most benefits or the least damage for the environment, as a whole, at acceptable cost, in the long term as well as the short term. (defined in the 12th report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution)
Betterment - The amount by which the value of land is increased by development or by the grant of planning permission, or because of the development of neighbouring land.
Bio-diversity - A measure of the number and range of species and their relative abundance in a community.
Boundaries - The boundaries define the extent of the property. Boundaries can sometimes not be displayed accurately on the deeds plans.
Brownfield – Is 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, and so on. These sites may even be still in use and may not be ready for development.
Building Preservation Order - A notice under Section 3 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to protect buildings of special architectural or historic interest from demolition or alterations that would affect their interest
C
CADW – Government agency supporting the preservation, conservation, enhancement, appreciation of historic buildings and monuments in Wales.
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 - More correctly referred to as a “material change of use” a change in the use of land or buildings that is of significance for planning purposes, often requiring planning permission.
Commitments - All land with current planning permission or allocated in local plans.
Community Forests - A joint initiative between the Countryside Agency and the Forestry Commission to promote the creation, regeneration of well-wooded landscapes around major towns and cities.
Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) - Notice issued by the government or a local authority to acquire land or buildings for public interest purposes.
Conditions - Stipulations attached to a planning permission to limit or direct the manner in which a development is carried out.
Conservation Area - An area given statutory protection under the Planning Acts, in order to preserve and enhance its character and townscape due to special architectural or historic interest.
Conservation Area Consent - consent required from the local planning authority before demolishing an unlisted building in a conservation area.
Contaminated Land - Land which has been polluted or harmed in some way rendering it unfit for safe development and practical use.
Contract of Sale - This is the name of the legal document that covers any land sale in the UK and you should always carefully check the terms in it.
Conversions - The sub-division of residential properties into bedsits, self-contained flats or maisonettes.
Countryside Agency - 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.
D
Deeds - Documents signed and usually witnessed, encompassing the terms of an agreement. The documents act as evidence that the person selling the property actually owns it, and also lay out any rights or obligations affecting the property. These are issued by the Office of H.M. Land Registry
Deemed Consent - This allows the display of certain "specified classes" of advertisement without first having to make an application to the local planning authority. Under the Control of Advertisements Regulations there are 14 Classes, all of which are subject to strict conditions and limitations.
Density - When referring to UK land, density describes the number of buildings (usually homes) per acre.
Departure - A proposed development which is not in accordance with a local plan but which due to exceptional circumstances the local planning authority proposes to accept - after due publicity and possible referral to the Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales.
Derelict Land - Land so damaged by industrial or other development that it is incapable of beneficial use without treatment.
Detailed/Full Application - The most common type of planning application is one that seeks full or detailed planning permission. It should contain all the information needed for the LPA to reach its decision, but the LPA may seek further information.
Determination - Local planning authority process to decide whether a proposed development requires planning permission.
Development - The carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or land.
Development Area - A priority area for environmental, social or economic regeneration or a combination of these.
Development Brief - Document providing detailed information to guide developers on the type of development, design and layout constraints and other requirements for a particular, usually substantial, site.
Development Control - The process whereby a local planning authority decides whether a planning application meets the requirements of planning policy, particularly as set out in development plans.
Development Plan - Document (a structure or local plan) that sets out in writing and/or in maps and diagrams a local planning authority's policies and proposals for the development and use of land and buildings in the authority's area.
Discontinuance Notice - Notice served by a local planning authority requiring the discontinuance of the display of any advertisement, or the use of a site for the display of an advertisement, which has the benefit of deemed consent under the Control of Advertisements Regulations. Action to serve a discontinuance notice may only be taken if the planning authority is satisfied it is necessary to do so to remedy a substantial injury to the amenity of the locality or a danger to members of the public.
DPP - Detailed Planning Permission
E
Edge-of-centre -For shopping, a location within easy walking distance of the primary shopping area, often with parking and a main store; for offices or leisure purposes, the term may refer to something more extensive a little further out but at a still walk able distance from a public transport hub.
Enforcement - Procedures by a local planning authority to ensure that the terms and conditions of a planning decision are carried out, or that development carried out without planning permission is brought under control.
Enforcement Notice - Notice requiring the discontinuance of an unauthorised use and/or the removal of buildings, including restoration of land, where development has been begun without permission or in breach of a condition.
English Heritage (Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) -
A national body funded by the government to promote and give advice on building conservation matters.
English Nature - A national body funded by the government to promote and give advice on the conservation of England's wildlife and natural features.
Environmental Appraisal -The process of weighing all the policies in a development plan for their global, national and local implications.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - Under the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988, proposers of certain scheduled developments are required to submit a planning application with an accompanying environmental statement, evaluating the likely environmental impacts of the development, together with an assessment of how the severity of the impacts could be reduced.
Established use – A se which does not conform to a plan but against which enforcement proceedings cannot be taken, often because of the length of time a use has been in operation.
Established Use Certificate - These were issued by a planning authority before July 1992 where it could be shown that a use of land or buildings had existed since before 1964. It gave immunity from enforcement action. Since July 1992 these have been replaced by Lawful Development Certificates.
European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) - Non-binding regional structure plan for the European Union.
Examination in Public (EIP) - Consideration of public views on a draft structure plan or proposed changes to it, held before an independent inspector.
Express Consent - This is needed to display an advertisement, which does not benefit from deemed consent under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements Regulations).
Environmental Impact Assessment -
A document that is required to accompany a planning application for developments that are likely to have an impact on their environment.
F
Floodplain - An area adjacent to a watercourse such as a river or stream, which water flows into during times of flood.
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.
G
General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) - The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grants rights (known as permitted development rights) to carry out certain limited forms of development without the need to make an application for planning permission.
Green Belt - Specially designated areaof countryside protected from most forms of development in order to stop urban sprawl and the coalescence of settlements, preserve the character of existing settlements and encourage development to locate within existing built-up areas, although the Government is currently reviewing this policy
Greenfield - An undeveloped site that is ready for development.
H
Habitable Room - All living rooms and bedrooms, but not kitchens, bathrooms, WCs or circulation space, are normally regarded as habitable for the purposes of density calculations
H. M. Land Registry - The Government body who is responsible for registering ownership of the land.
I
Infill Sites - The development of land that is surrounded by other land used in a similar nature. This is usually defined in terms of additional housing development within an existing residential area.
Infrastructure - Permanent resources serving society's needs, including roads, sewers, schools, hospitals, railways, communication networks etc.
Integrated Transport Strategy - The integration of land-use and transportation planning to allow transport provision and the demand for travel to be planned and managed together, balancing the use of different modes of transport to encourage easy transfer between them and reduced reliance on the private car.
L
Land Compensation - Concerns the assessment of compensation where land, or some other interest in land, is being acquired, either compulsorily, or by agreement, by an authority possessing compulsory purchase powers.
Landscape Character Assessment - A study of the landscape which identifies its distinctive physical, ecological, historical and agricultural characteristics and identifies the human, social and economic influences which have shaped it.
Large Sites - Housing sites of 10 or more dwellings and generally with an area of greater than 0.4 hectares, where the number of dwellings to be built is unknown. A term used in housing land supplying monitoring
Lawful Development Certificate – The procedure by which existing or proposed uses and other types of development can be certified as lawful for planning purposes. An application has to be made to the local planning authority and there is a right of appeal against their decision.
LDP - Local Development Plan is the local council's plan for its future building programme.
Listed Buildings - Listed Buildings are generally old properties protected by the Local Authority. Properties that are listed are subject to planning and building restrictions assigned a grade (I, II* or II).
Listed Building Consent – A permission that is required for the alteration or demolition of a listed building.
Local Centre – A small group of shops usually comprising of a newsagent, general store, sub-post office and other small shops for the local community
Local Nature Reserve (LNR) – An area designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 as being of particular importance to nature conservation and where public understanding of nature conservation issues is encouraged.
Local Plan - The local planning authority's detailed policies and specific proposals for the development and use of land in an administrative area. This will guide its day-to-day planning decisions and forms part of the Statutory Development Plan. Local Plans are being superseded by Local Development Frameworks, although the practice of allocating the intended use of specific sites will remain
Local Planning Authority - The local authority or council that is empowered by law to exercise planning functions. This is normally the local borough or district council, but in National Parks and some other areas there is a different arrangement.
Local Transport plan - How the local highway authority intends to deliver an integrated and sustainable transport system within a five year period. It also forms a bid to central government for funding to implement its proposals.
M
Material Consideration - A matter which should be taken into account when deciding on a planning application or appeal against a planning decision.
Metropolitan - Constituting a large urban area, usually including a city, its suburbs and outlying areas.
Mineral Planning Guidance Notes (MPGs) -
A series of documents issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) (previously Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR)) setting out government policy and advice on planning issues relating to mineral resources.
Minerals Planning Policy Wales - Document setting out the policy of the Welsh Assembly Government in relation to short and long term future use and safeguarding of mineral deposits
N
National Assembly for Wales - Government body in Wales that debates and approves legislation and holds the Welsh Assembly Government to account.
National Nature Reserve - Area designated by English Nature to protect and conserve nationally important areas of wildlife habitat and geological formations and to promote scientific research; in Wales it is an SSSI that the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has designated of national or international importance for nature conservation. (Note: on the CCW website I noticed that they also refer to National Nature Reserves, as well as SSSIs)
National Park - Tract of predominantly open and attractive countryside designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 with its own administration and management role and function as a local planning authority.
Nature Conservation - The preservation, management and enhancement of natural plant and animal communities, and occasionally modified vegetation, as representative samples of their kind.
New Town - Free-standing new settlement designated and planned under the New Towns Act 1946 and subsequent legislation.
Non-conforming Use - A use which does not conform to the general provisions of the development plan for the area in which it is located.
Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) - A provision of the Electricity Act 1989 requiring regional electricity companies to take a proportion of their electricity from energy sources other than fossil fuels
O
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) - (previously Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) government department responsible for town and country planning policy and administration.
Outline application - A general application for planning permission to establish that a development is acceptable in principle, subject to subsequent approval of detailed matters.
Out-of-town - An out-of-centre development on a green-field site or on land not clearly within the current urban boundary.
Open Countryside - Open farmland and fields that doesn't have the infrastructure nearby that is needed for development.
Open Space - Land used for public or private recreational purposes such as parks.
P
Park and Ride - Scheme enabling motorists to leave their vehicles at edge-of-town car parks and travel into town centres by public transport.
Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest (GSHI) - Parks and gardens containing historic features dating from 1939 or earlier and registered by English Heritage in three grades as with historic buildings.
Permitted Development Rights - Rights to carry out certain limited forms of development without the need to make an application for planning permission, as granted under the terms of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.
Planning Obligations and Agreements - Legal agreements between a planning authority and a developer, or offered unilaterally by a developer, ensuring that certain extra works related to a development are undertaken, usually under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Planning Gain - The principle of a developer agreeing to provide additional benefits or safeguards, often for the benefit of the community, usually in the form of related development supplied at the developer's expense.
Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) -
A series of documents issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) (previously Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR)) setting out government policy and advice on planning issues such as housing, transport, conservation etc
Proposals Map - An obligatory component of a local plan showing the location of proposals in the plan on an Ordnance Survey base map.
Protected Species - Plant and animal species, including all wild birds, protected under the Conservation (Natural Habitats and Conservation) Regulations 1994, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and subsequent amendments, or other species protected under legislation specific to them.
Public Open Space (POS) - Land provided in urban or rural areas for public recreation, though not necessarily publicly owned.
Public Realm - Outdoor areas accessible to the general public.
Public Right of Way - A way where the public has a right to walk, and in some cases ride horses, bicycles, motorcycles or drive motor vehicles, which will be designated either as a footpath, a bridleway, a road used as a public path (RUPP) or a byway.
Purchase Notice - This requires a local planning authority to purchase an interest in land where a planning decision conflicts with the private interests of landowners.
R
Ramsar Site - Area identified under the internationally agreed Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as waterfowl sites and as Sites of Special Scientific Interest focusing on the ecological importance of wetlands generally.
Recycling - The recovery of reusable materials from waste.
Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphologic Sites (RIGS) -
Non-statutory sites of regional importance recognised by English Nature and local authorities.
Regional Planning Guidance Notes (RPGs) - Policy guidance and advice issued for each region in England by the Secretary of State.
Regional Shopping Centre - Out-of-town concentration of shops, usually containing over 50,000 square metres gross retail area.
Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) - The objective of the Regional Spatial Strategy is to contribute to sustainable development. The RSS, incorporates a Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) and provides a broad development strategy for the region for a fifteen to twenty year period. The RSS also informs the preparation of local Development Documents (LDDs), Local Transport Plans (LTPs) and regional and sub-regional strategies that have a bearing on land use activities. Following the commencement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) became RSS in each region outside of London and now forms part of the statutory Development Plan
Regulation 7 Direction - A Direction made by the Secretary of State to remove from a particular site or defined area the benefit of deemed consent normally provided by the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations.
Renewable Energy - Energy generated from resources that are unlimited, rapidly replenished or naturally renewable such as wind, water, sun, wave and refuse, and not from the combustion of fossil fuels.
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.
Ribbon development - A narrow band of development extending along one or both sides of a road.
Rural Development Area – A Priority area for economic and social development.
Rural Diversification - Activities undertaken on surplus land to support farming incomes, including, for example, forestry, leisure and tourism.
S
Safeguarded Land - Safeguarded Land is land between the urban area and the Green Belt. Safeguarded Land ensures the protection of the Green Belt on a longer timescale by reserving land which may be required to meet long term development needs without the need to alter the Green-Belt boundaries
Scheduled Ancient Monument - A structure placed on a schedule compiled by the Department of National Heritage in England and Cadw in Wales for protection under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act.
Section 106 Agreement (see Planning Gain) -
A binding agreement between a council and a developer associated with a grant of planning permission and regarding matters linked to the proposed development.
Sequential Approach – Is a process by which the suitability of site for development is assessed according to the location along with other factors that are central to the allocation and assessment of proposed housing and retail sites.
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - Area identified by English Nature or Countryside Council for Wales for protection by reason of the rarity of its nature conservation or wildlife features.
Small Sites - Housing sites of less than 10 dwellings or with an area of less than 0.4 hectares where the number of dwellings to build is unknown. A term used in housing land supply monitoring
Special Needs Housing - Housing to meet need arising from homelessness or overcrowding, and purpose-built or supported housing for the elderly or disabled people or those requiring care.
Statutory - Required by law (statute), usually through an Act of Parliament.
Statutory Undertakers/Statutory Utilities – Providers of essential services such as gas, electricity, water or telecommunications.
Stop Notice - A notice served in respect of land subject to enforcement proceedings prohibiting the carrying out or continuing of specified operations which are alleged to constitute a breach of planning control and designed to stop work going on pending the outcome of an appeal.
Strategic Greenfield Land – Is a large Greenfield site, which has been identified as important in terms of its contribution to delivering longer term development.
Structure Plan - Statutory plan setting out key strategic policies, which provide the framework for more detailed policies in local plans.
Subject to Contract - Before Exchange of Contracts (See above) all negotiations relating to the property are subject to contract this means they are not binding unless contracts are exchanged.
Sui Generis - Uses of land or buildings which do not fall into any of the use classes identified by the Use Classes Order, for example theatres, launderettes, car showrooms and filling stations.
Supplementary Planning Guidance - Guidance documents such as development briefs or design guides, which supplement and clarify policies in the Development Plan. They must derive out of and be consistent with the Development Plan and should be prepared in the proper manner, including being subject to public consultation and adopted by the local planning authority.
Sustainability Appraisal – Is the process of identifying, quantifying, weighing up and reporting on the social, economic and environmental effects of policies and proposals in the Development Plan.
Sustainable Development - Environmentally responsible development, commonly defined as "development which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
T
TANs - Technical advice notes for Wales which provide topic-based supplements to the policy document Planning Policy Wales.
Title - In UK law, the Crown ultimately owns all of the land but grants ownership by title to others.
Town Centre - Describes city, town and traditional suburban centres which provide a broad range of facilities and services and which fulfil a function as a focus for a community and for public transport.
Town Centre Management - Partnership of local organisations, businesses and individuals to promote the common good of a town by developing, managing, promoting and improving facilities, the useful resources, the economy and the environment of a town centre.
Townscape - The appearance and character of buildings and all other features of an urban area taken together as a whole.
Traffic Calming - Management measures designed to lower traffic speeds or redirect traffic to alternative routes to avoid congestion, reduce accidents and injuries and prevent excess levels of pollution.
Transfer of Equity - A document transferring ownership of a share or interest in a property from one person to another.
Transport Policy and Programme (TPP) - Statutory document setting out a transport authority's bid for the programming and funding of transport measures, produced annually for submission to central government.
Travel to Work Area (TTWA) - A broadly self-contained labour market area usually focused on an urban employment centre.
Tree Preservation Order (TPO) - Direction made by a local planning authority that makes it an offence to cut, top, lop, uproot or wilfully damage or destroy a tree without that authority's permission.
U
Urban Capacity - A term used in housing policy to quantify the amount of new housing that an urban area can accommodate, having regard to a number of environmental and other factors. Local Planning authorities are required to undertake studies to identify the urban capacity.
Urban Extensions - Sites outside but closely associated with urban areas which provide the opportunity to meet housing needs in a comprehensive manner by co-ordinating the provision of housing with existing and planned new infrastructure.
Urban Sites - Sites located within defined town limits.
Unitary Development Plan - Local plan produced by certain unitary district authorities and London boroughs which have responsibility for the full range of local authority services.
Urban Fringe - Predominantly open land on the edge of an existing urban area.
Urban Regeneration - The re-use or redevelopment of decaying or run-down parts of older urban areas to bring them new life and economic vitality.
Use Classes Order - The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 puts uses of land and buildings into various categories, planning permission not being required for changes of use within the same use class. In practice changes between use classes are likely to require planning permission
V
Village envelope - Boundaries defined on a map beyond which the local planning authority proposes that a village should not be allowed to extend.
W
Welsh Assembly Government - A body that develops and implements policy in Wales via the civil service and a range of sponsored bodies.
Wildlife Corridor - A continuous area facilitating the movement of wildlife, through rural or urban environments.
Windfall Allowances - An estimation of the number of houses which are likely to be developed during the plan period on previously developed land which has not been specifically allocated for housing in the local plan.
Wind Farm - Large open site where wind speeds are consistently high on which a number of wind turbines generate electricity for private or commercial use.
Written Statement - Documentary statement of policy, forming part of a development plan submitted by a local planning authority and requiring formal approval.
