FAQs

An assessment used to determine the relative contribution to pollutant concentrations of specific current or future source emissions at receptor sites.

Is a way of creating and improving natural habitats. BNG makes sure development has a measurably positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity, compared to what was there before development.

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 typically be professionally managed stock in single ownership and management control.

Shops, hairdressers, travel and tickets agencies, post offices, cold food shops such as sandwich bars, undertakers, funeral directors, launderettes/dry cleaners and repair shops.

Financial services such as banks and building societies; professional services including estate and employment agencies; and other services which is appropriate to provide in a shopping area and where the sale, display or service is principally to visiting members of the public.

Premises for the sale of food or drink for consumption on the premises.

• Offices not within Class 1A
• Research and development
• Light industry

Storage or distribution.

Hotels, boarding houses, guest houses and hostels.

Crèches, day nurseries, day centres, schools and colleges, art galleries / centre, museums, exhibition halls, public libraries and places for social activities of a religious body

Cinemas, concert halls, bingo halls, casinos, dance halls, discotheques, skating rinks, swimming baths and gymnasiums.

Conservation Areas are areas which have special architectural or historic interest that are considered worthy of protection. Their selection, assessment and designation is carried out by the planning authority. To be designated as a Conservation Area it must meet the criteria of ‘special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which is desirable to preserve or enhance’, as set out in Section 61 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

The process of maintaining and managing change to a heritage asset in a way that sustains, preserves and, where appropriate, enhances its significance.

States in a logical, step-by-step manner, how a specific task should be undertaken. It considers the health and safety implications of a task and contains the control measures that should be followed to reduce risk.

A document that outlines how a developer will minimise any negative environmental impacts of a specific construction project. It should demonstrate that the construction project complies with the relevant environmental legislation.

Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific or social value for past, present or future generations. Cultural significance can be embodied in a place itself, its fabric, setting, use, associations, meanings, records, related places and related objects.

Density is either defined in terms of the number of units or the number of habitable rooms per hectare.

A World Heritage Site, Scheduled Monument, Listed Building, Garden and Designed Landscape or Battlefield included in the Inventory, Historic Marine Protected Area or Conservation Area designated under the relevant legislation.

A full planning application is required when making detailed proposals for developments which are not covered by a householder application or permitted development rights.

Enabling development is development that would otherwise be unacceptable in planning terms, but is essential, to secure the future of an historic environment asset or place which is at risk of serious deterioration or loss.

Reduces energy needs through improved design and construction. This approach focuses on improving u-values, reducing thermal bridging, improving air tightness and installing energy efficient ventilation and heating systems.

The combination of the probability of a flood and the potential adverse consequences associated with a flood, for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.

A report which evaluates the impact of a development on the significance of a historic or archaeological site, building and setting.

All aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between people and places through time, including all surviving physical remains of past human activity, whether visible, buried or submerged, and landscaped and planted or managed flora.

This refers to parking within the property’s boundary, typically to the front or rear of the property.

Accommodation which provides private rooms alongside shared communal spaces and facilities. This type of accommodation does not constitute self-contained dwellings (Class 9), HMOs, student accommodation, hotels, or other residential institutions.

A Listed Building is a built structure of ‘special architectural or historic interest’. The term ‘building’ can be defined as ‘anything made by people’ such as houses, schools, factories, boundary walls, bridges and sculptures. Listing covers the whole of a building or structure including its exterior, interior and any ancillary structures within its curtilage (provided these were constructed before 1 July 1948). Their selection, assessment and designation is carried out by Historic Environment Scotland under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. Listed Buildings are managed primarily through the Listed Building Consent process by the appropriate planning authority.

The public authority whose duty it is to carry out specific planning functions for a particular area.

All open space of public value, including not just land, but also areas of water (such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs) which offer important opportunities for sport and recreation and can act as visual amenity.

All those responsible for providing services and looking after assets in a place need to work and plan together, and with local communities, to improve the lives of people, support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and create more successful places.

A condition imposed on a grant of planning permission in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

A legal agreement entered into under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to mitigate the impacts of a development proposal.

Is the term used to describe the rapid assessment of the ecological features present, or potentially present, within a site and its surrounding area. It normally comprises a desk study and a walkover survey.

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 the biomass and deep geothermal heat. Low carbon technologies are those that can help reduce emissions (compared to conventional use of fossil fuels).

A furnished rental unit that combines the comfort and privacy of a home with hotel-style services, available for short-term or long-term stays.

The surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced. Its extent is not fixed and may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance or may be neutral.

The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. The interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting.

Residential accommodation specifically built, designed and managed for students, treated as Sui Generis under the Use Classes Order (Scotland) 1997.

Planning shorthand for a use that falls outside the defined classes in the Use Classes Order (Scotland) 1997 (as amended), such as theatres, amusement centres, places for motor vehicle recreation or firearm sport

SUDS are drainage solutions that provide an alternative to the direct channelling of surface water through networks of pipes and sewers to nearby watercourses.

Centres which display:

• a diverse mix of uses, including shopping;
• high level of accessibility;
• qualities of character and identity which create a sense of place and further the well-being of communities;
• wider economic and social activity during the day and in the evening; and
• integration with residential areas.

A comprehensive and systematic process that sets out transport issues relating to a proposed development. It identifies measures required to improve accessibility and safety for all modes of travel, particularly for alternatives to the car such as walking and cycling, and measures that will be needed to deal with the anticipated transport impacts of the development.