Active Frontage - Refers to a façade of a building that provides natural surveillance on to a public or private space. 

Adoption – The stage at which, by resolution of the Council, the local authority can adopt

a local plan as Council policy. As part of the Development Plan a local plan acquires full weight once it has been adopted. 

Affordable Housing – Affordable housing includes social rented and intermediate housing, provided to specifi ed eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. 

Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) – Local authorities are required to produce an AMR to assess the implementation of the Local Development Scheme and the extent to which the policies in the Development Plan are being successfully implemented. 

Grade Crossing – Road crossings at street level. 

Brownfi eld Land – Previously developed land is that which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land and any associated fixed  surface  infrastructure. 

Building for Life – The national design standard for the design of new homes and neighbourhoods. 

Code for Sustainable Homes –The national standard to guide developers on the design and construction of sustainable homes. 

Community Infrastructure Levy – A charge that local authorities will be empowered, but not required, to charge on the majority of types of new development, dependent on its size and use.

 Comparison Goods – Goods that consumers buy infrequently and would compare prices before purchasing such as clothing and electrical goods.

 Conservation Area – Nationally recognised designation with the primary aim is to protect and enhance an area’s character and heritage. They can vary in both size and character, and can include small groups of buildings, public spaces or even open spaces. They often include groups of Listed Buildings.

 County  Council  : Northamptonshire County Council.

 Development Plan – Under the Planning Acts, this is the prime consideration in the determination of  planning applications. 

Examination in Public - The local authority must arrange for an independent examination of a submitted local plan to test the ‘soundness’ of the policies and proposals. The examination is held by an independent planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State from the Planning Inspectorate.

 Gateway – Key entry point into the Central Area.

Infrastructure - The facilities and services that help local people to live their everyday lives. It can range from strategic provision, such as a new road or school, to the creation of a local play-space. 

Landmark - Points of reference that assist people in orientating themselves to an area, this could be a building, monument or open space 

Legibility – The degree to which a place or route can be understood. 

Lifetime Homes - 16 levels of design criteria which can be applied to all new housing developments. 

Listed Buildings – When buildings are listed, they are placed on statutorily lists of buildings of ‘special architectural or historic interest’. Listing ensures that the architectural and historic interest of the building is carefully considered before any alterations, either outside or inside, are agreed. 

Local Development Scheme (LDS) – Sets out the programme for the preparation

of local plans. It will be subject to regular review. 

Main Town Centre Uses – the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)  in addition to retail identifi es several other uses as ‘main town centre uses’ including offi ces, leisure, entertainment facilities, the more intensive sport and recreation uses (including cinemas, restaurants, drive-through restaurants, bars and pubs, night-clubs, casinos, health and fi tness centres, indoor bowling centres and bingo halls); and arts, culture and tourism development (including theatres, museums, galleries and concert halls, hotels and conference facilities).

Major Developments – Defi ned as developments proposing 1,000 or more square metres of fl oor space or 10 or more dwellings.

Master Plan - A master plan shows proposals for a series of buildings and spaces and how each component of a plan links and functions together. 

Mixed Use – A variety of different activities to be contained within development proposals. Modal Shift - Making alternative travel choices to the car. 

Open Space – Areas free of development - this includes public landscaped areas, parks, playing fi elds and rivers. Areas of water such as rivers and canals can also be considered open space as they offer opportunities for sport and recreation or can also act as a visual amenity and haven for wildlife. 

Palette – A specifi c range of materials and styles which can be used in development in order to create a sense of cohesion and identity in an area. 

Pedestrian Desire Lines – A route that people would fi nd most convenient to use when travelling between destinations. 

Pedestrian Severance – Severance of pedestrian routes - this can include things such as busy roads and railway lines. Permeability – The ability to move through areas via a variety of pleasant, convenient and safe routes.

Planning Inspectorate – Government agency responsible for the processing of planning and enforcement appeals and holding inquiries into local development plans.

Public Realm – Areas that are accessible to everyone includes most street, squares and parks. 

Regeneration - The economic, social and environmental renewal and improvement of an area.

Sequential Test - A sequential test requires applicants to assess the availability, suitability and viability of all in centre sites before bringing forward development proposals for town centre uses outside of a centre.

Sound / Soundness – In order for a local plan to be considered ‘sound’ it must be justifi ed by a robust evidence base and be prepared in accordance with the tests set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and in legal conformity with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended).

Statement of Community Involvement – A Local Development Document which sets out the methods and standards which the local authority intend to achieve in relation to involving the community during the preparation of the Area Action Plan

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) – When the local authority wishes to provide policy guidance to supplement the policies and proposals in the local plans they can produce an SPD. SPDs are material consideration in making planning decisions but do not form part of the Development Plan.

Sustainability Appraisal – The appraisal of plans and policies to evaluate whether proposed policies and forthcoming development take account of social, environmental and economic factors.

Sustainable Development – Sustainable development is the core principle underpinning town planning in the UK. The key message of sustainable development is to plan for development which meets the needs of today without compromising the potential needs of future generations.

Sustainable transport - A wide range of travel modes, including walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing, that are an alternative to single-occupancy car journeys or non-renewable energy using modes.

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations Provides the statutory basis for Town and Country Planning in England including regulations on the procedures for plan making.

Town centres - Defi ned in National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as an area

defi ned on the local authority’s proposal map, including the primary shopping area and areas predominantly occupied by main town centre uses within or adjacent to the primary shopping area. References to town centres or centres apply to city centres, town centres, district centres and local centres

but excludes small parades of shops of shops of purely neighbourhood signifi cance. Unless they are identifi ed as centres in Local Plans, existing out-of-centre developments, comprising or including main town centre uses, do not constitute town centres.

Townscape – The visual appearance of a built up area, such as street pattern, architecture and hard and soft landscaping. 

Tall Building – Any building or structure that breaks the skyline and/or which is signifi cantly taller than its surrounding built fabric. 

Use Classes Order – The use classes as outlined in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended). The use classes range from Shops (A1) to Business Offi ces (B1) to Hotels (C1) to Non- residential institutions (D1). 

Urban Design – Urban design involves the design of a building, groups of buildings, spaces and landscaping and considers how these elements all function and link together to form successful areas of cities, towns and villages.

Urban Form – Urban form refers to the physical layout (structure and urban grain), density, scale (height and massing), appearance (materials and details) and landscape of development.

West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy – A local plan prepared by the West Northamptonshire Join Planning Unit, setting out the long-term vision for land use and development and strategic policies for the West Northamptonshire area.

West Northamptonshire Development Corporation - A government sponsored regeneration agency with a focus on the regeneration of Northampton.