Rother Local Plan 2025-2042 Regulation 19 (pre-submission) version September 2026

Appendix 2: Glossary Comment

1066 Country Walk – the route commemorates 1066, the year of the Battle of Hastings, and seeks to link the places and the people of that important year. It runs through East Sussex from Pevensey to Rye, passing through Battle.

Accessibility – the ability of people of all ages and abilities to reach, enter, move around and use places, buildings, facilities and services safely and conveniently, including disabled people and people with mobility, sensory or cognitive impairments, older people and people with young children.

Active Travel – walking, wheeling and cycling and, where appropriate, horse riding. Wheeling includes the use of wheelchairs, mobility scooters and other mobility aids.

Active Frontage – a building frontage that provides overlooking, entrances, windows, activity or visual interest onto a street, route or public space and contributes to natural surveillance and street activity.

Affordable housing – housing for sale or rent, for those whose needs are not met by the market (including housing that provides a subsidised route to home ownership and/or is for essential local workers); and which complies with one or more of the following definitions:

1. Social Rent: meets all of the following conditions: (a) the rent is set in accordance with the Government’s rent policy for Social Rent; (b) the landlord is a registered provider; and (c) it includes provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision.
2. Other affordable housing for rent: meets all of the following conditions: (a) the rent is set in accordance with the Government’s rent policy for Affordable Rent, or is at least 20% below local market rents (including service charges where applicable); (b) the landlord is a registered provider, except where it is included as part of a Build to Rent scheme (in which case the landlord need not be a registered provider); and (c) it includes provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision. For Build to Rent schemes affordable housing for rent is expected to be the normal form of affordable housing provision (and, in this context, is known as Affordable Private Rent).
3. Discounted market sales housing: is that sold at a discount of at least 20% below local market value. Eligibility is determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices. Provisions should be in place to ensure housing remains at a discount for future eligible households.
4. Other affordable routes to home ownership: is housing provided for sale that provides a route to ownership for those who could not achieve home ownership through the market. It includes shared ownership, relevant equity loans, other low-cost homes for sale (at a price equivalent to at least 20% below local market value) and rent to buy (which includes a period of intermediate rent). Where public grant funding is provided, there should be provisions for the homes to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for any receipts to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision, or refunded to Government or the relevant authority specified in the funding agreement.

See also Intermediate Affordable Housing.

Agricultural Diversification – a farm or forestry business broadening its business model to include economic activities other than agriculture, to provide a long-term sustainable income stream that supplements agricultural income and allows farming of the land to remain viable.

Ancient or Veteran Tree – a tree which, because of its age, size and condition, is of exceptional biodiversity, cultural or heritage value. All ancient trees are veteran trees. Not all veteran trees are old enough to be ancient but are old relative to other trees of the same species. Very few trees of any species reach the ancient life-stage.

Ancient Woodland – an area that has been wooded continuously since at least 1600 AD. It includes ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW), plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS), ancient wood pasture and parkland (AWPP) and infilled ancient wood pasture and parkland (IAWPP). Note “wooded continuously” doesn’t mean there’s been a continuous tree cover across the whole site. Not all trees in the woodland have to be old. Open space, both temporary and permanent, is an important component of ancient woodlands.

Appropriate Assessment – Appropriate Assessment (AA) refers to stage 2 of the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) process. It considers the impacts of a plan or project assessed against the conservation objectives of a European Site, in order to identify whether there are likely to be any adverse effects on site integrity and site features. The purpose of appropriate assessment of local plans is to ensure that protection of the integrity of European sites is a part of the planning process at a regional and local level.

Article 4 Direction – a direction made under Article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 which withdraws permitted development rights granted by that Order.

Area Type – a spatial category identified on the Policies Map and used by the Local Plan to apply location-specific policy expectations. For Policies LWL1 and LWL2 these comprise the Bexhill Urban Area, Bexhill Suburban areas, Historic Towns, Live Well Locally Areas, Village areas and Countryside areas.

Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) – produced by the local authority to assess the impact of policies and whether targets are being met, and where necessary identify adjustments or revision to policies/proposals.

Biodiversity – the whole variety of life encompassing all genetic, species and ecosystem variations, including plants and animals.

Bioregional Design – an approach to design that responds to the natural systems, resources, materials, climate, ecology, hydrology, landscape character and local supply chains of the area in which development is located.

Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) – a strategy aimed at conserving and enhancing biological diversity, operational until 2012. UK BAP priority species and habitats have now been succeeded by Priority Habitats and Species as identified under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) – a mandatory requirement in England under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021) – for developers of sites that need planning permission – and Schedule 2A of the Planning Act 2008, (as inserted by Schedule 15 of the Environment Act 2021). It ensures that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development. This means a development will result in more or better-quality natural habitat than there was before development.

Biodiversity Opportunity Area (BOA) – landscape-scale areas identified as having the greatest opportunities for habitat creation and restoration. Mapped through work carried out by the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre.

Brownfield Land/Site – land which has previously been developed (see Previously Developed Land).

Brownfield Land Register – registers of previously developed land that local planning authorities consider to be appropriate for residential development, having regard to criteria in the Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Registers) Regulations 2017. Local planning authorities will be able to trigger a grant of permission in principle for residential development on suitable sites in their registers where they follow the required procedures.

Building Regulations – regulations which are separate from the planning act, but which have to be adhered to in the construction of development.

Building for a Healthy Life – a design framework used to inform and assess residential development, including how proposals respond to context, create well-structured streets and spaces, provide movement choice and support healthy and inclusive places, including any successor framework.

Building with Nature – a framework for the planning, design, delivery and long-term management of high-quality green and blue infrastructure, including any successor standards.

Build to Rent – purpose-built housing that is typically 100% rented out. It can form part of a wider multi-tenure development comprising either flats or houses, but should be on the same site and/or contiguous with the main development. Schemes will usually offer longer tenancy agreements of three years or more and will typically be professionally managed stock in single ownership and management control.

Built Form – the three-dimensional arrangement of buildings, streets, spaces, landscape and infrastructure within a development or place.

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) – an independent voluntary consumer organisation which promotes real ale, real cider and the traditional British pub.

Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) – a registered charity with over 60,000 members and supporters, formed in 1926 to limit urban sprawl and ribbon development.

Catchment Flood Management Plan (CFMP) – a Catchment Flood Management Plan is a strategic planning tool through which the Environment Agency will seek towork with other keydecision-makers within a river catchment to identify and agree policies for sustainable flood risk management.

Circular Economy – an approach that seeks to keep buildings, components and materials in use for as long as possible through retention, reuse, repair, adaptation and recovery, while minimising waste and enabling materials to be recovered and reused at the end of their useful life.

Combined Heat and Power – CHP plants incorporate both power and heat from a single heat source.

Commitments – the use of the term in this plan relates to all proposals for development which are the subject of a current full or outline planning permission.

Community Facilities and Services – facilities and services that meet the social, health, educational, cultural, recreational, religious or other everyday needs of a community. They include medical, health and social services; local shops and halls; and arts, cultural, educational, leisure, recreation and religious facilities. Residential care homes and nursing homes are addressed separately through the relevant housing policy.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – a levy allowing local authorities to raise funds from owners or developers of land undertaking new building projects in their area, as set out in regulations.

Community-led development – a development taken forward by, or with, a not-for-profit organisation, that is primarily for the purpose of meeting the needs of its members or the wider local community, rather than being a primarily commercial enterprise. The organisation should be created, managed and democratically controlled by its members, and membership of the organisation should be open to all beneficiaries and prospective beneficiaries of that organisation. It may take any one of various legal forms including a co-operative society, community benefit society and company limited by guarantee. The organisation should own, manage or steward the development in a manner consistent with its purpose, potentially through a mutually supported arrangement with a Registered Provider of Social Housing. The benefits of the development to the community should be clearly defined and consideration given to how those benefits can be protected over time, including in the event of the organisation being wound up.

Compact Development – development in which buildings, streets, spaces and uses are arranged to make efficient use of land, support walkable and well-connected neighbourhoods and contribute positively to local character and quality of place. Compact development does not necessarily mean uniformly high density or an urban form of development.

Comparison Goods/Floorspace – comparison goods are items not obtained on a frequent basis. These include clothing, footwear, household and recreational goods.

Conservation Area – an area designated under the Town and Country Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 on account of its special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is intended to preserve and enhance.

Contaminated Land – land that has been polluted or harmed in some way making it unfit for safe development and usage unless cleaned.

Convenience Goods/Floorspace – convenience goods are everyday essential items, including food, drinks, newspapers/magazines and confectionery.

Core Strategy – sets out the long–term vision for the future of the area, the spatial objectives and strategic policies to deliver that vision. It forms Part 1 of the Council’s current Local Plan for the District. It was adopted (approved) in September 2014 and will be superseded on the adoption of this Local Plan.

Cumulative Impact – where there are a number of developments in a locality or a continuous activity over time that together may have an increased impact on the environment, local community or the local economy.

Deliverable Sites – to be considered deliverable, sites for housing or other pitches and plots should be available now, offer a suitable location for development now, and be achievable with a realistic prospect that homes will be delivered on the site within five years. In particular:

1. sites which do not involve major development and have planning permission, and all sites with detailed planning permission, should be considered deliverable until permission expires, unless there is clear evidence that homes will not be delivered within five years (for example because they are no longer viable, there is no longer a demand for the type of units or sites have long-term phasing plans).
2. where a site has outline planning permission for major development, has been allocated in a development plan, has a grant of permission in principle, or is identified on a brownfield land register, it should only be considered deliverable where there is clear evidence that homes will be delivered on-site within five years.

Density –is an indicator for how compact a development or place will be and how intensively it will be developed. Is measured in the number of dwellings per hectare. Net density includes the measure of everything that is developed in a site but excludes major roads, open and public realms, schools and commercial and community buildings. It is calculated using net development area. Gross density is the measure that includes all aspect of a site including housing, commercial space, open and public realms, roads, schools and other uses and is calculated using the site area.

Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) – the UK Government department tasked with issues such as the environment, rural development, the countryside, wildlife, animal welfare and sustainable development.

Desire Line – the direct or naturally preferred route that people are likely to take between origins and destinations, particularly when walking, wheeling or cycling.

Design Speed – the vehicle speed that the physical layout and design characteristics of a street are intended to encourage or accommodate, rather than simply the signed speed limit applying to it.

Design for Disassembly – designing buildings, structures or components so that they can, where feasible, be readily dismantled in the future to enable repair, adaptation, reuse or recovery of materials and components.

Developable Site – to be considered developable, sites should be in a suitable location for housing development (or for traveller sites) with a reasonable prospect that they will be available and could be viably developed at the point envisaged.

Development Boundary – a drawn boundary which represents the extent (or built-up area) of a town or village. They are used in policy to identify land within, adjacent or outside a settlement.

Development Plan – the statutory development plan is the starting point in the consideration of planning applications for the development or use of land. The development plan consists of local plans prepared by the District Council, with Minerals and Waste Local Plans prepared by the County Council, and Neighbourhood Plans prepared locally by Town or Parish Councils.

Dual-Aspect Dwelling – a dwelling with windows to habitable rooms facing in more than one direction, normally on two different external elevations.

Edge of Centre – for retail purposes, a location that is well connected to, and up to 300 metres from, the primary shopping area. For all other main town centre uses, a location within 300 metres of a town centre boundary. For office development, this includes locations outside the town centre but within 500 metres of a public transport interchange. In determining whether a site falls within the definition of edge of centre, account should be taken of local circumstances.

Employment Land / floorspace – that which is in use for the following purposes – office, industrial and warehousing - falling within Use Class E(g), B2 or B8.

Environment Agency (EA) – an Executive Agency of DEFRA, this body is responsible for wide-ranging matters, including the management of water resources, surface water drainage, flooding and water quality.

Evidence Base – the information and data gathered by local authorities to justify the “soundness” of the policy approach set out in local planning documents, including physical, economic, and social characteristics of an area.

Filtered Permeability – the design of a movement network so that walking, wheeling, cycling and, where appropriate, public transport can move through an area more directly than private motor vehicles, while restricting unnecessary motor-vehicle through-movement.

Floodplain – an area of land over which water flows in time of flood or would flow but for the presence of flood defences where they exist.

Flood Zone 1 (Low Probability) – this zone comprises land assessed as having a less than 1 in 1000 annual probability of river or sea flooding in any year (<0.1%).

Flood Zone 2 (Medium Probability) – this zone comprises land assessed as having between a 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 annual probability of river flooding (1% – 0.1%) or between a 1 in 200 and 1 in 1000 annual probability of sea flooding (0.5% – 0.1%) in any year.

Flood Zone 3a (High Probability) – this zone comprises land assessed as having a 1 in 100 or greater annual probability of river flooding (>1%) or a 1 in 200 or greater annual probability of flooding from the sea (>0.5%) in any year.

Flood Zone 3b (Functional Floodplain) – this zone comprises land where water has to flow or be stored in times of flood (land which would flood with an annual probability of 1 in 30 (3.3%) or greater in any year or is designed to flood in an extreme (0.1%) flood).

Frontage Parking – vehicle parking provided between a building and the street or other principal public frontage.

Forecourt Parking – a form of frontage parking comprising an area in front of a building used primarily for vehicle parking or manoeuvring.

Greenfield Land or Site – land (or a defined site) usually farmland, that has not previously been developed, also including allotments and residential gardens.

Green Infrastructure and Blue Infrastructure – a network of multi-functional green and blue spaces and other natural features, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental, economic, health and wellbeing benefits for nature, climate, local and wider communities and prosperity. Green infrastructure includes parks, open spaces, playing fields, woodlands, street trees, allotments, private gardens, green roofs and walls, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and soils. Blue infrastructure includes the coast, rivers, streams, canals and other water bodies.

Green Relief – permanent and functional planting, trees, sustainable drainage or other landscape features incorporated within an area of frontage parking to break up parking and hard surfacing and provide landscape, drainage and visual benefits.

Gypsies and Travellers – persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, and all other persons with a cultural tradition of nomadism or of living in a caravan, but excluding members of an organised group of travelling showpeople or circus people travelling together as such. (Defined in Annex 1 of the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, December 2024).

Habitat – the natural living space of a plant or animal.

Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) – this describes the entire assessment process set out in the Habitats Directive and associated regulations. It includes an ‘appropriate assessment’. The Habitats Directive protects habitats and non-avian species of European importance and applies to Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) while the European Directive (79/409/EEC) on the Conservation of Wild Birds (Birds Directive), protects bird species of European importance and applies to Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

Habitats Site – any site which would be included within the definition at regulation 8 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 for the purpose of those regulations, including candidate Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Community Importance, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, any relevant Marine Sites, and compensatory habitats which relate to these sites.

Healthy Streets – an approach to the planning and design of streets that considers how the street environment supports walking, wheeling and cycling, safety, comfort, clean air, opportunities to stop and rest, shade and shelter and other aspects of health and wellbeing.

Historic Street – a street, lane, square, routeway or public-realm space that contributes positively to the significance, character or appearance of a conservation area, listed building, historic settlement or other heritage asset.

House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) – as defined under section 254 of the Housing Act 2004 (as amended) as:

1. a house which has been converted entirely into bedsits or other non-self-contained accommodation, and which is let to three or more tenants who form two or more households and who share kitchen, bathroom or toilet facilities;
2. a converted house which contains one or more flats which are not wholly self-contained (i.e. the flat does not contain within it a kitchen, bathroom and toilet) and which is occupied by three or more tenants who form two or more households.

Housing Association – a non-profit making, independent organisation that provides housing; generally, they provide accommodation for people in housing need who are unable to afford to buy or rent housing on the open market.

Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA) – a background evidence study that assesses the future development needs for different types of housing and employment uses through the Local Plan period.

Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) – a background evidence study that examines the suitability, availability and achievability of potential new sites for housing and employment uses.

In-Curtilage Parking – vehicle parking provided within the curtilage of the dwelling or other building that it serves, rather than within the public highway or a communal parking area.

Index of Multiple Deprivation –a measure of relative deprivation across the UK based on income, employment, education, health, crime, and other factors.

Infill Development – development of a vacant site in a substantially developed frontage or area.

Infrastructure – the basic requirements for the satisfactory development of an area including such things as roads, footpaths, sewers, schools, open space and other community facilities.

Intermediate Affordable Housing for sale – a general term to describe Affordable Housing for sale, usually shared ownership.

Landscape Character Assessment – an assessment to identify different landscape areas which have a distinct character based on a recognisable pattern of elements, including combinations of geology, landform, soils, vegetation, land use and human settlement.

Landscape Sensitivity Assessment – an assessment of the resilience, or robustness, of a landscape to withstand specified change arising from development types or land management practices, without undue negative effects on the landscape and visual baseline and their value.

Level-Surface Street – a street or public space in which pedestrian areas and vehicle movement areas are provided at substantially the same level rather than being separated by a conventional raised kerb.

Listed Building – a nationally protected building of special architectural or historic interest as designated by Historic England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Live Well Locally Area – an area type comprising a planned urban extension, intended to develop over time as a well-connected, walkable neighbourhood with access to an appropriate range of local facilities and services.

Local Area for Play (LAP) – a small area of open space for young children to play games such as tag, hopscotch, French cricket or play with outdoor toys. The activity zone should be reasonably flat, have a grass surface, and minimum area of 100sqm. There should be seating for carers and appropriate landscaping/buffer zones.

Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAP) – a play area equipped for children. The activity zone should have a minimum area of 400sqm, with grass playing space and at least five types of play equipment with appropriate safety surfacing. There should also be seating for accompanying adults.

Local Development Scheme (LDS) – a document setting out the programme for the preparation of the local planning policy documents. It sets out a 3-year programme and includes information on consultation dates.

Local Distinctiveness – the positive features of a locality that contributes to its special character and sense of place, distinguishing one local area from another.

Local Housing Need – the number of homes identified as being needed through the application of the standard method set out in National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Local Plan 2006 – Local Plan adopted by Rother District Council in 2006, some saved policies of which still form part of the current development plan for the district.

Local Planning Authority – the public authority whose duty it is to carry out specific planning functions for a particular area. All references to local planning authority include the district council, London borough council, county council, Broads Authority, National Park Authority, the Mayor of London and a development corporation, to the extent appropriate to their responsibilities.

Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) – A term used to describe non-statutory areas identified by local authorities in the development plan for their biodiversity value. There are a number of different terms in use locally to describe these sites, including Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) and Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCIs) and County Wildlife Sites (CWS).

Low Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) – established in 2017 to support the transition to net zero, originally in London. It is a voluntary network of over 1000 built environment professionals, working together to put the UK and the planet on the path to a zero-carbon future. They have created best practice model standards for organisations to adhere to.

Main Town Centre Uses – retail development (including warehouse clubs and factory outlet centres); leisure, entertainment and more intensive sport and recreation uses (including cinemas, restaurants, drive-through restaurants, bars and pubs, nightclubs, casinos, health and fitness centres, indoor bowling centres and bingo halls); offices; and arts, culture and tourism development (including theatres, museums, galleries and concert halls, hotels and conference facilities).

Market Housing – private housing for rent or for sale, where the price is set in the open market.

Masterplan – a framework or detailed document outlining the overall strategy for design and development of a specific area, setting out principles and proposals for land use, infrastructure, buildings, spaces and movement.

Material Consideration – a matter that should be taken into account in deciding a planning application or on an appeal against a planning decision.

Mitigation Measures – measures which are put in place to reduce or eliminate any harm caused e.g. if building a house in an area of flood risk, the developer could build the house on stilted foundations to minimise the risk as a mitigation measure.

Mixed Use – development containing some mixture of commercial, retail and/or residential uses.

Mobility Hub – a location that enables convenient interchange between different forms of transport, particularly active travel and public transport. Depending on its scale and context, it may include facilities such as cycle parking, seating, travel information, shared mobility, parcel collection, electric-vehicle charging and links to public or community transport.

Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) – an outdoor fenced area for various types of games, such as football, basketball or tennis.

National Highways – an executive agency of the Department of Transport responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network of England.

National Landscapes – areas legally designated as areas of outstanding natural beauty under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. National Landscapes fall within the Protected Landscapes Duty as defined by Section 245 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 where relevant authorities must ‘seek to further’ the statutory purposes of Protected Landscapes. Formally known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

National Nature Reserve (NNR) – NNRs contain examples of some of the most important natural and semi-natural terrestrial and coastal ecosystems in Great Britain. They are managed to conserve their habitats or to provide special opportunities for scientific study of the habitats, communities and species represented within them. NNRs are declared by the statutory country conservation agencies under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – the National Planning Policy Framework sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. It provides a framework within which locally prepared plans for housing and other development can be produced.

Natural England – is a Non-Departmental Public Body of the UK Government. It was formed (vested) on 1 October 2006. It is responsible for ensuring that England’s natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils are protected and improved. It also has a responsibility to help people enjoy, understand and access the natural environment.

Natural England Green Infrastructure Framework – is a tool resulting from the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. It provides an England-wide evidence base to help local authorities and others target Green Infrastructure improvements where they are most needed.

Neighbourhood Plan – a plan prepared by a parish council or neighbourhood forum for a designated neighbourhood area. In law this is described as a neighbourhood development plan in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Net Developable Area – For the purposes of residential density, the part of a development site used for residential buildings, access streets, parking and incidental open space within the development. It excludes strategic landscaping and open space, structural planting, land required for biodiversity net gain, sustainable drainage infrastructure serving wider areas and other land that does not form part of the developable residential layout.

Net Residential Density – the number of dwellings per hectare calculated using the net developable area of the site.

Older People –people over or approaching retirement age, including the active, newly-retired through to the very frail elderly; and whose housing needs can encompass accessible, adaptable general needs housing through to the full range of retirement and specialised housing for those with support or care needs.

Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study –the Study (2007) undertook an audit and assessment of open space across Rother district in accordance with national guidelines. The Study assessed open space, sport and recreational needs of people living, working and visiting Rother, produced local provision standards and identified areas of surplus and deficiency based on quantity quality and accessibility across the district.

Parameter Plan – a plan defining the key spatial or design parameters within which subsequent detailed development must take place. Parameters may include the broad disposition of land uses and developable areas, access and movement, connections, green and blue infrastructure, open space, landscape structure, drainage, density and building heights.

Parish Council – a type of local authority found in England which is the lowest, or first, tier of local government. They are elected bodies and are responsible for areas known as civil parishes. They cover only part of England; corresponding to 40% of the population, but cover all of Rother, including Bexhill, Battle and Rye which are known as Town Councils. Parish and Town Councils can prepare Neighbourhood Plans.

Parking Court – a grouped parking area serving a number of dwellings or other uses, usually located away from the principal street frontage. A rear parking court is a parking court located principally behind the buildings it serves.

Pevensey Levels Hydrological Catchment Area –An area that has particular drainage requirements, necessary to avoid surface water and water quality impacts on the designated Pevensey Levels Ramsar site (wetland of international importance). The Pevensey Levels is one of the largest and least-fragmented lowland wet grassland systems in south-east England.

Planning Obligation – a legal obligation under section 106 of the Town & Country

Planning Act 1990 to mitigate the impacts of a development proposal, sometimes referred to as ‘developer contributions’ or ‘s106’. They are either in the form of a legal agreement between a planning authority and the persons with an interest in the land, or undertakings offered unilaterally by the landowner. Planning obligations run with the land, are legally binding and enforceable.

Planning Practice Guidance – planning guidance published by the Government to supplement the NPPF.

Previously Developed Land – land which has been lawfully developed and is or was occupied by a permanent structure and any fixed surface infrastructure associated with it, including the curtilage of the developed land (although it should not be assumed that the whole of the curtilage should be developed). It also includes land comprising large areas of fixed surface infrastructure such as large areas of hardstanding which have been lawfully developed. Previously developed land excludes: land that is or was last occupied by agricultural or forestry buildings; land that has been developed for minerals extraction or waste disposal by landfill, where provision for restoration has been made through development management procedures; land in built-up areas such as 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.

Priority Habitats and Species – also known as Habitats and Species of Principle Importance. Those habitats and species included in the England Biodiversity List published by the Secretary of State under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006. Replaces the previous Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) designations.

Ramsar Site – wetlands of international importance, designated under the 1971 Ramsar Convention.

Renewable and Low Carbon Energy – includes energy for heating and cooling as well as generating electricity. Renewable energy covers those energy flows that occur naturally and repeatedly in the environment – from the wind, the fall of water, the movement of the oceans, from the sun and also from biomass and deep geothermal heat. Low carbon technologies are those that can help reduce emissions (compared to conventional use of fossil fuels).

Rural Exception Sites – small sites used for affordable housing in perpetuity where sites would not normally be used for housing. Rural exception sites seek to address the needs of the local community by accommodating households who are either current residents or have an existing family or employment connection. A proportion of market homes may be allowed on the site at the local planning authority’s discretion, for example where essential to enable the delivery of affordable units without grant funding.

Rural Diversification Scheme – development of non-agricultural or land-based operations located within an existing and active farm or land-based business to promote the viability of the existing business, while remaining ancillary and subordinate in scale.

Run-off – that part of precipitation, snow melt, or irrigation water that runs off the land into streams or other surface water. It can carry pollutants from the air and land into the receiving waters.

Self-build and custom-build housing – housing built by an individual, a group of individuals, or persons working with or for them, to be occupied by that individual. Such housing can be either market or affordable housing. A legal definition, for the purpose of applying the Self-buildand Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended), is contained in section 1(A1) and (A2) of that Act.

Sequential Approach/Test – a planning principle that seeks to identify, allocate or develop certain types or locations of land before others. For example, brownfield sites before greenfield sites or town centre retail sites before out-of-centre sites, or areas at low risk of flooding before areas of medium and high risk of flooding.

Shared-Space Street – a street or space in which conventional physical separation between some or all users is reduced or removed, requiring particular consideration of inclusive access, legibility and safety.

Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) – a Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) provides a largescale assessment of the risks associated with coastal evolution and presents a policy framework to address these risks to people and the developed, historic and natural environment in a sustainable manner. In doing so, an SMP is a high-level document that forms an important part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) strategy for flood and coastal defence.

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – an area of special interest by reason of its flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features as identified by Natural England and designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Soundness – a test of a Local Plan. Plans are sound if they are positively prepared; justified; effective; and consistent with national policy. The tests of soundness are set out in full in the NPPF.

Special Area of Conservation (SAC) – areas defined by regulation 3 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 which have been given special protection as important conservation sites. (Together with SPAs, SACs form a network of Habitats Sites.)

Special Protection Area (SPA) – areas classified under regulation 15 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 which have been identified as being of international importance for the breeding, feeding, wintering or migration of rare and vulnerable species of birds. (Together with SACs, SPAs form a network of Habitats Sites).

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) – these can be produced to provide policy guidance to supplement the policies and proposals in Local Plans. However, they do not form part of the Development Plan although they must undergo a formal process of consultation.

Stewardship – the long-term governance, management, maintenance and care of shared spaces, community assets, green and blue infrastructure, sustainable drainage and other communal assets within a development.

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) – an assessment of the likelihood of flooding in a particular area so that development needs and mitigation measures can be carefully considered.

Strategic Gap – area of largely open land between settlements, which helps to maintain the separate identity and amenity of settlements and prevent them merging together. The boundaries are defined in the Local Plan.

Submission – the final stage in preparation of Plans, whereby they are submitted to the Secretary of State for an Independent Examination.

Sustainability Appraisal (SA)/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) – local Planning Authorities are required to assess the environmental and sustainability impact of policies and proposals in Local Plans and Supplementary Planning Documents. This is a tool for appraising policies to ensure that they reflect sustainable development objectives, i.e. social environmental and economic factors.

Sustainable Access and Recreation Management Strategy (SARMS) – a joint approach between Rother and Folkestone and Hythe District Councils which seeks to ensure that any increases in access and recreational usage of land within or adjacent to the Dungeness Complex of Habitats Sites does not adversely impact on the integrity of the sites.

Sustainable Communities – places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all.

Sustainable Development – development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs; ensures a better quality of life for everyone now and for generations to come.

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) – a sustainable drainage system controls surface water run off close to where it falls, combining a mixture of built and nature-based techniques to mimic natural drainage as closely as possible, and accounting for the predicted impacts of climate change. The type of system that would be appropriate will vary from small scale interventions such as permeable paving and soakaways that can be used in very small developments to larger integrated schemes in major developments.

Sustainable Transport Modes – any efficient, safe and accessible means of transport with overall low impact on the environment, including walking and cycling, low and ultra-low emission vehicles, car sharing and public transport.

Town Council – in England, town councils are civil parish councils, where the civil parish has declared itself to be a town. Civil parishes are the most local level of elected governance, under the district, unitary or county level. There are three in Rother district covering Battle, Bexhill and Rye. Town Councils can prepare Neighbourhood Plans.

Transport Assessment – Transport Assessments are thorough assessments of the transport implications of development. Transport Assessments may propose mitigation measure in relation to any adverse implications of a development, which may also inform the preparation of a Travel Plan.

Travel Plan – a document most commonly produced by/for a large employer which tends to generate a large number of journeys by car. The plans include measures to reduce car dependency and facilitate transport choice, by encouraging more sustainable alternatives to car use.

Travelling Showpeople – members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers as defined in the national Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, December 2024.

Tree Preservation Order (TPO) – an Order made by a planning authority specifying trees which may not be lopped, topped or felled without consent, except where they become dead, dying or dangerous, when replacements may be required.

Vitality and Viability – in terms of retailing, vitality is the capacity of a centre to grow or to develop its level of commercial activity. Viability is the capacity of a centre to achieve the commercial success necessary to sustain the existence of the centre.

Walking, Wheeling and Cycling – forms of active travel. ‘Wheeling’ refers to pedestrian-paced mobility using wheelchairs, mobility scooters, rollators and other mobility aids.

Whole-Life Carbon – the greenhouse-gas emissions associated with a building or development over its whole life, including embodied carbon associated with materials and construction and operational carbon associated with its use.

Windfall sites – sites not specifically identified in the development plan.