| Term |
Definition |
Relevant Pages |
| Advertisement |
Any word, letter, model, sign, placard, board, notice, awning, blind, device or representation, whether illuminated or not, in the nature of, and employed wholly or partly for the purpose of advertisement, announcement or direction and (without prejudice to the preceding provisions of this definition) includes any hoarding or similar structure used or designed or adapted for use, and anything else principally used, or designed or adapted principally for use, for the display of advertisements. |
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| 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. |
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| Amenity |
A positive element or elements that contribute to the overall character of an area, for example open land, trees, historic buildings and how they relate to each other. |
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| Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) |
A report submitted to Government by the council or regional planning bodies assessing Local Development Framework or Regional Spatial Strategy production progress and policy effectiveness. |
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| Appeal |
The process whereby a planning applicant can challenge an adverse decision, including a refusal of permission. Appeals can also be made against the failure of the planning authority to issue a decision within a given time, against conditions attached to permission, against the issue of an enforcement notice and against refusals of listed building and conservation area consent. |
Appeals |
| Application |
Where the applicant puts down on paper or records electronically the details of the proposed works. This normally includes a standard planning application form coupled with detailed drawings of the proposal along with a map describing the development site. |
What is Planning Permission?; The Application and Decision Process |
| Certificate of Lawfulness |
It is possible to try to establish an existing unauthorised use or structure by making an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness. All unauthorised structures (and also unauthorised use as a dwelling house or self-contained flat or maisonette) require a four-year period of proof, while all remaining unauthorised uses require a ten-year period of proof. The onus is on the applicant to supply significant supporting documentary evidence, together with the application form, plans and fee. The legal test of the evidence is "the balance of probability" rather than the more onerous test of "beyond reasonable doubt". |
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| Change of Use |
Where the material use of a building is changed. For instance, where a dwelling house is changed to a shop usage, or where a shop is turned into a takeaway. |
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| Community Strategy |
A strategy prepared by local authorities to help deliver local community aspirations, under the Local Government Act 2000. |
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| Conservation Area |
An area designated by the Council under the Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as possessing special architectural or historical interest. |
Conservation Areas |
| Consultations |
Whereby the council seeks the views from the general public be it on a planning application or on a development plan document. This is normally done through letters, public events, surgeries or electronically. |
Publicity & Consultations |
| Conversions |
Generally means the physical work necessary to change of use of a building from a particular use, classified in the use classes order, to another use. Can also mean the sub-division or intensification of residential properties into self-contained flats or maisonettes. |
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| Core Strategy |
A Development Plan Document setting out the spatial vision and strategic objectives of the planning framework for an area, having regard to the Community Strategy. |
Core Strategy |
| Curtilage |
The area normally within the boundaries of a property surrounding the main building and used in connection with it. |
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| Decision Notice |
When the planning officer or the Planning Committee makes the decision, the application will be either approved or refused. The decision will be sent to the applicant (or the agent if there is one). Decision Notices may include conditions and the reason why these conditions have been made or, if the application is refused, will include the reasons for refusal. |
The Application and Decision Process |
| Delegated Decision |
In order to speed up the decision making process local authorities are increasingly adopting a procedure which allows senior planning officers to make decisions without referring the application to a full planning committee. |
The Application and Decision Process |
| Development |
The carrying out of any building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under the land or the making of any material change in the use of any building or land. |
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| Development Plan Documents |
Development Plan Documents are prepared by local planning authorities and outline the key development goals of the local development framework. Development Plan Documents include the core strategy, site-specific allocations of land and, where needed, area action plans. There will also be an adopted proposals map that illustrates the spatial extent of policies that must be prepared and maintained to accompany all DPDs. All DPDs must be subject to rigorous procedures of community involvement, consultation and independent examination, and adopted after receipt of the inspector's binding report. Once adopted, development control decisions must be made in accordance with them unless material considerations indicate otherwise. DPD’s form an essential part of the Local Development Framework. |
The Development Plan for Darlington |
| Enforcement Action |
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 |
| Enforcement Notice |
A notice served by a local planning authority setting out the remedial action necessary to put right work or correct an activity that appears to have been undertaken without planning permission. |
Enforcement |
| Front Loading |
Involves community involvement in the production of Local Development Documents to gain public input and seek consensus from the earliest opportunity. |
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| Full Application |
A planning application seeking full permission for a development proposal with no matters reserved for later approval. |
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| General Permitted Development Order (GDPO) |
A set of regulations made by the government that grants planning permission for specified limited or minor forms of development. |
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| Greenfield Land |
Land such as farmland, playing pitches or open land that has not previously been developed. |
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| Issues & Options Document |
The "pre-submission" consultation stages on Development Plan Documents with the objective of gaining public consensus over proposals ahead of submission to government for independent examination. |
Core Strategy |
| Listed Building |
A building or structure considered by the government to be of special architectural or historic interest and given legal protection against developments which would alter its character. |
Listed Buildings |
| Local Development Framework |
The Local Development Framework (LDF) is a non-statutory term used to describe a folder of documents, which includes all the local planning authority's local development documents. This is replacing the existing Local Development Plan. |
Local Development Framework for Darlington |
| Local Plan |
A document setting out the local planning authority's policies and proposals for the development and use of land and buildings in the authority's area. This is currently being replaced by the new Local Development Framework system. |
Borough of Darlington Local Plan |
| Open Space |
All space of public value, including public landscaped areas, playing fields, parks and play areas, and also including not just land, but also areas of water such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs, which can offer opportunities for sport and recreation or can also act as a visual amenity and a haven for wildlife. |
Open Spaces Strategy |
| Outline Planning Application |
A general application for planning permission to establish that a development is acceptable in principle, subject to subsequent approval of detailed matters. |
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| Permitted Development |
Situation in which the required development is allowed to be carried out without the need to obtain planning permission. |
Permitted Development Enquiries |
| Planning Applications Committee |
The Planning Applications Committee is made up of 12 elected members. Its purpose is to make decisions on important applications. These decisions will take into account the officers' reports and recommendations as well the views of the applicant and of interested and affected parties. |
Planning Applications Committee |
| Planning Brief |
A planning brief can include site-specific development briefs, design briefs, development frameworks and master plans that seek to positively shape future development. |
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| Planning Obligations |
Legal agreements between a planning authority and a developer, or undertakings offered unilaterally by a developer that ensure that certain extra works related to a development are undertaken. An example of this would be the provision of highways access or open space provision within the development. Sometimes called "Section 106" agreements. |
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| Previously Developed Land |
Previously developed land is that which is or was occupied by a permanent structure (excluding agricultural or forestry buildings), and associated fixed-surface infrastructure. The definition covers the curtilage of the development. PDL land is sometimes referred to as brownfield land. |
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| Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) |
A strategy for how the North East region should look in 15 to 20 years time and possibly longer. The RSS identifies the scale and distribution of new housing in the region, indicates areas for regeneration, expansion or sub-regional planning and specifies priorities for the environment, transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals and waste treatment and disposal. Most former Regional Planning Guidance is now considered RSS and forms part of the development plan. Regional Spatial Strategies are prepared by Regional Planning Bodies. |
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| Scheduled Ancient Monument |
Includes sites of public interest for historic, architectural, traditional or archaeological reasons, whether above or below ground, and any 'cave or excavation'. It also includes sites containing the remains of these. Not all are visible structures above ground and most only show when conditions are right, for example as distinct crop or soil marks. |
Ancient Monuments |
| Spatial Planning |
Spatial planning goes beyond traditional land use planning to bring together and integrate policies for the development and use of land with other policies and programmes which influence the nature of places and how they function. This will include policies which can impact on land use by influencing the demands on, or needs for, development, but which are not capable of being delivered solely or mainly through the granting or refusal of planning permission and which may be implemented by other means |
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| Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) |
The Statement of Community Involvement sets out the processes to be used by the local authority in involving the community in the preparation, alteration and continuing review of all local development documents and development control decisions. The Statement of Community Involvement is an essential part of the new-look Local Development Frameworks. |
Statement of Community Involvement |
| 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 policies and proposals in a 'parent' Development Plan Document. |
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| Sustainable Development |
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. |
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| Tree Preservation Order |
An official order made to apply to particular trees or groups of trees to prevent them being pruned or felled without permission. |
Tree Felling & Pruning |
| Urban Capacity Study (DUCS) |
Studies undertaken to establish how much additional housing can be accommodated within the Darlington Borough’s urban areas. |
Darlington Urban Capacity Study |
| Validation |
When we receive each new application, in the early stages it is checked for correctness and completeness. This checking process is usually referred to as validation. |
The Application and Decision Process |