Jargon buster

The planning system brings with it a range of terms and abbreviations which when used in documents can be considered to be 'jargon'. The list below identifies some of the common terms used in planning policy.

Affordable housing

Housing, whether for rent, shared ownership or outright purchase, provided at a cost considered affordable in relation to incomes that are average or below average, or in relation to the price of general market housing.

Allocations DPD

A Development Plan Document that identifies sites and related policies for specific types of land use, for example housing or employment.  As of mid-2020, the Council is preparing a single Local Plan which includes work undertaken to date on the Core Strategy Partial Review and land allocations

Authority Monitoring Report (AMR)

An assessment of the progress and effectiveness of policies and proposals in the Local Plan.

Area Action Plan (AAP)

A type of Development Plan Document which focuses upon a specific location or an area subject to conservation or significant change (for example major regeneration). These plans provide a planning framework for an area of the district where significant change or conservation is needed.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

A levy which allows local authorities to raise funds from owners or developers of land who are undertaking new building projects in the local area.

Core Strategy DPD

A Development Plan Document that will provide the strategic planning framework for the district. It sets out the long-term spatial vision along with strategic objectives and policies to deliver that vision. The strategy also contains a monitoring and delivery framework. All other DPDs must conform to the Core Strategy.

Development Plan

This includes adopted Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans for the local area.

Development Plan Document (DPD)

These documents form the development plan for the District. They include the: Core Strategy, Allocations, Area Action Plans and Proposals Map. These documents are the subject of an independent examination.

Evidence Base

This refers to the information and data gathered by the local authority to justify the policy approach as set out in Local Development Documents, including physical, economic, and social characteristics of an area.

Front loading

Local authorities must 'front load' community involvement in the production of Local Development Documents to gain valuable feedback and comments at the earliest opportunity.

Green belt

A designation for land around certain cities and large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped. The purposes of the green belt are to:

• check the unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas
• prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another
• assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment
• preserve the setting and special character of historic towns and
• assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land

Green belts are defined in a local planning authority's development plan with changes only being permissible in exceptional circumstances as part of a Local Plan review. A common mistake is to assume all 'green' land is green Belt. The Replacement Unitary Development Plan (RUDP) sets out the current extent of Bradford's green belt boundary. 

Greenfield land

Land (or a defined site) usually farmland, that has not previously been developed. This should not be confused with green belt which is a specific designation.

Inspector's report

A report issued by an independent 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 and Options stage

This is a early or 'pre-submission' consultation stages on a Development Plan Document. The aim is to consult the public on a plan and gain consensus over proposals before the document is submitted to the government for independent examination.

Key diagram

This is a simple strategic diagram of the spatial strategy set out the Core Strategy Development Plan Document which shows broad locations of where housing and employment uses should be focused.

Local Development Documents (LDDs)

These refer to a collection of documents including Development Plan Documents and Supplementary Planning Documents. These documents collectively deliver the spatial planning strategy for the local planning authority's area.

Local Development Scheme (LDS)

This sets out the local authority's programmed time-scale for the preparation of Local Development Documents. This timetable is reviewed and is linked to the AMR.

Local Plan

This is the plan for the future development of the local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The Core Strategy and other development plan documents will form part of the Local Plan.

It is the collection of documents that together will provide the framework for delivering the spatial planning strategy for the district. It includes:

• Development Plan Documents (DPDs) (including Area Action Plans (AAPs)
• Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs)
• Authority Monitoring Report (AMR)
• Local Development Scheme (LDS),
• Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)

It will eventually replace the RUDP for Bradford once adopted.

Neighbourhood Plan

A plan prepared by a Parish Council or Neighbourhood Forum for a particular neighbourhood area (made under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).

Previously developed land (brownfield land)

This refers to land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure.  It includes the curtilage of the developed land and any associated fixed surface infrastructure. It 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 management 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. This definition comes from the National Planning Policy Framework (PDF).

Proposals Map

An Ordnance Survey (OS) map base showing site specific allocations and designations.

Replacement Unitary Development Plan (RUDP)

This is the current development plan for the Bradford District which was adopted in October 2005, and subsequently saved in October 2008. All planning decisions must accord with the policies in this plan.

Saved plan and policies

This relates to policies within the Replacement Unitary Development Plans which have been 'saved' until the Core Strategy and other Development Plan Documents become adopted. Certain policies which have become out-of-date or superseded by national planning policy have been deleted.

Soundness

A Development Plan Document must be considered to be 'sound' by an independent inspector at Examination for it to be adopted. To be found 'sound' a Development Plan Document should be:

• justified - founded on a robust evidence base and the most appropriate strategy when considered against the reasonable alternative
• effective - the document must be deliverable, flexible, able to be monitored; and 
• consistent with national planning policy.

Spatial vision

This is a brief description of how the area will change by the end of a plan period.

Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)

This sets out the processes to be used by the local authority when involving the community in the preparation, alteration and continuing review of all local development documents and development control decisions.

Statement of consultation

A report or a statement issued by local planning authorities explaining how they have complied with their Statement of Community Involvement during consultation on Local Development Documents.

Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

A Supplementary Planning Document is a Local Development Document that may cover a range of issues, thematic or site specific, and provides further detail of how policies and proposals in a 'parent' Development Plan Document will be implemented. While not part of statutory development plan, these documents provide supplementary guidance to policies and proposals contained in Development Plan Documents.

Sustainability Appraisal (SA)

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 as a plan is being prepared.

Further information

If you require further information about the Core Strategy or any other aspect of Bradford's Local Plan, please do not hesitate to contact the Planning Policy Team.