Reg En Speak Glossary

Aston, Newtown and Lozells Area Action Plan

Glossary of terms Advantage West Midlands (AWM) The Regional Development Agency for the West Midlands. Affordable Housing Low cost market housing and subsidised housing irrespective of tenure, ownership or financial arrangements, available to people who cannot afford to rent or buy houses generally available of the open market. Allocation The use assigned to a piece of land in a local Development Plan. Area Action Plan (AAP) A statutory land use plan which sets out the planning policies and land use allocations for a particular area and provides a planning framework for areas of significant change or regeneration. Biodiversity The whole variety of life encompassing all genetic, species and ecosystem variations. Black and Minority Ethnic Communities (BME) Black and Minority Ethnic Communities. Centro The executive arm of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority. Commitments Land that is the subject of an existing planning permission and other projects or proposals where it is accepted will take place due to financial or other reasons. Community Strategy Strategies for enhancing the quality of life of the local community which each local authority has a duty to prepare under the Local Government Act 2000. They will be developed and implemented by a local strategic partnership and should include: a long term vision; an action plan; shared commitments to, and proposals for, implementation; and arrangements for monitoring and review.

Conservation Area Areas designated by the local planning authority which are considered of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it wishes to preserve or enhance. Convenience Retail The provision of everyday essential goods, including food and other grocery items. Comparison Retail The provision of items not obtained on a frequent basis, including clothing, footwear, household and recreational goods. Corridor Area linking two or more centres, normally focused around transport infrastructure. Density Measure of the number of dwellings per hectare (ha). Employment Land Land allocated in a Development Plan for business (B1), industrial (B2) and storage/ distribution (B8) uses. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Procedure and management technique that ensures that the likely effects of new development on the environment are fully appraised and taken into account before the development is allowed to go ahead. Flood Plain Land adjacent to a watercourse over which water flows, or would flow but for defences in place, in times of flood. Gateway A gateway is an entrance into an area, normally at key junctions and crossroads. Opportunities may exist to improve the quality of these sites by ensuring that high quality development is secured, or where no new development is proposed, gateways should be enhanced through high quality public realm improvements.

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Aston, Newtown and Lozells Area Action Plan

Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM) Combined offices of key Government Departments at the West Midlands level. Greenfield Land Undeveloped land. Gross Retail Floor Space The area ascertained by the total internal measurement of the floor space, including all areas allocated for storage. Housing Market Renewal Area (HMRA) See Urban Living. Housing Redevelopment Existing Birmingham City Council housing stock that has been declared for demolition and clearance. Housing Regeneration Houses, housing estates or residential tower blocks that for reasons of low demand, their poor layout, poor condition and surrounding environment do not provide adequate living standards for their owners or tenants. The following actions will be considered: improving the surrounding environment, improving the layout of housing, remodelling, refurbishment or improving the internal layout of housing, selective demolition and redevelopment with new housing. Hi-tech (or High Tech) Industry Advanced manufacturing, computing or other state of the art industry (e.g. biotechnology). High Technology Corridors (HTCs) Specific corridors identified, within which cluster development closely related to the region’s critical research and development capabilities and advanced technologies, will be promoted.

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Industrial Regeneration Land within these areas will be safeguarded for predominantly industrial uses. There is scope for environmental improvement to encourage inward investment through measures such as new surfacing, tree planting, softening of boundaries or building enhancement or redevelopment.

Local Centre A local or district centre includes shops, businesses and community facilities. They may also include some residential properties that lie within the centre. Local Transport Plan (LTP) Plan prepared by the Strategic Planning Authorities dealing with transport priorities and actions to be taken. Listed Building Building or structure of historic or architectural merit which has protection under the planning legislation. Major Urban Areas (MUAs) The focus of Urban Renaissance which will underpin the Regional Spatial Strategy. There are 4 MUAs in the West Midlands: Birmingham; The Black Country; Coventry; and the North Staffordshire Conurbation. Mixed-use Development A new development that makes provision for a variety of uses - e.g. residential, retail and business. An example of this might be the Mailbox in Birmingham. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) The Government Department with responsibility for planning issues. Opportunity Sites Areas of land, or derelict buildings, vacant or underused land which have the potential to be used and redeveloped for alternative uses. Park and Ride Long stay parking areas at the edge of a built up area linked by frequent public transport links to the city centre. Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) Document prepared and issued by Central Government setting out policy on different aspects of planning. Local authorities must take their content into account in the production of development plans. Planning Policy Statements (PPS) Documents prepared by the government after public consultation to explain statutory provisions and provide guidance to local authorities and others on planning policy and the operation of the planning system. PPS have replaced PPGs.

Aston, Newtown and Lozells Area Action Plan

Public Open Space (POS) Publicly accessible open land of recreational or public value, including parks, playing fields and landscaped areas.

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Nationally important sites for wildlife or earth science where proposed development must be given special scrutiny.

Regional Investment Site (RIS) High quality, regionally identified sites of 25-50ha attractive to external investment designed to support the diversification and modernisation of the regional economy especially in relation to the Region’s cluster priorities.

Strategic Road Network The highest level of the road network, made up of trunk roads, Priority (Red) Routes and designated roads.

Radburn Housing A type of housing from the 1960/70s with remote parking areas, networks of pedestrian access to houses, open plan gardens and front gardens often facing back gardens. Retail Uses Shops (A1), Professional and Financial Services (A2), Restaurants and Cafes (A3), Drinking Establishments (A4) and Hot Food Takeaways (A5). Section 106 Agreement (= planning obligation) (S106) Planning obligations are private agreements, negotiated in the context of planning applications, between local planning authorities and persons with an interest in a piece of land and intended to make acceptable development which would otherwise be unacceptable in planning terms. Sequential Approach A search sequence derived from PPGs 3 and 11 designed to guide the allocation and release of land for housing purposes to encourage the use of PDL and sustainable locations. Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) A Government- funded regeneration programme for the area that finished in 2007 providing assistance for a wide range of business and environmental projects. Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation A Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation is one, which is or may be, of particular value to nearby residents or schools. Some of these sites may already be used by schools for nature study. Local sites are particularly important in areas otherwise deficient in wildlife sites.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) A sequence of management practices and control structures designed to drain surface water in a more sustainable fashion than some conventional techniques. Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) A strategy to provide a clear sense of direction for the longer term spatial development of the Region, influencing the future investment decisions of all sectors, both public and private. Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Appraisals of plans, strategies and proposals to test them against the four broad objectives set out in the Government’s sustainable development strategy. Sustainable Development Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland 1987). Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) European Directive 2001/42/EC, known as the ‘strategic environmental assessment’ or ‘SEA’ Directive, requires a formal environmental assessment of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment. Authorities which prepare and/or adopt a plan or programme that is subject to the Directive must prepare a report on its likely significant environmental effects, consult environmental authorities and the public, and take the report and the results of the consultation into account during the preparation process and before the plan or programme is adopted. Unitary Development Plan Plan prepared by Metropolitan District and some Unitary Local Authorities containing policies equivalent to those in both a Structure Plan and Local Plan.

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Aston, Newtown and Lozells Area Action Plan

Urban Boulevard The concept of Urban Boulevards along the A34 and A5127 consists of creating a higher quality public realm, tree planting, new high quality landmark developments and attractive open spaces along these corridors. It seeks to establish a pedestrian friendly environment linking areas of open space and enabling higher density/mixed-use development at key locations whilst ensuring that the existing highway capacity is maintained. Urban Living (UL) One of nine nationally designated Housing Market Renewal Area Pathfinders. Urban Living covers part of north west Birmingham and Sandwell. Use Classes Order (UCO) Existing classification of land use by economic activity.

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