Appendix 3 Glossary
Adopted 2018 Local Plans
Sets out the council's vision and strategy for the area over a length of time and provides the basis for decisions on planning applications. Plans can be adopted after they have been through a plan making process involving consultation and examination. The current Local Plans in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire were adopted in 2018, and can be viewed on the Councils' websites: Cambridge Local Plan 2018: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/local-plan-2018 South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-and-neighbourhood-planning/the-adopted-development-plan/south-cambridgeshire-local-plan-2018/
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 essential for local workers). Eligibility is determined using local incomes and local house prices.
Biodiversity
The variety of life in all its forms. This includes the plant and animal species that make up our wildlife and the habitats in which they live.
Business churn
Levels of businesses starting up and businesses ending. A high level of business churn means a lot of businesses start, and a lot of businesses end each year.
Carbon footprinting
This is an exercise that measures the impact of our activities on the environment and climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating, transportation etc.
Climate change adaptation
Adjustments made to natural or human systems in response to actual or anticipated impacts of climate change, to mitigate harmful or exploit beneficial opportunities. (Source: National Planning Policy Framework 2019)
Climate change mitigation
Action to reduce the impact on human activity on the climate system, primarily through reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (Source: National Planning Policy Framework 2019)
Combined Authority
A legal body made up of two or more councils that work together to decide and carry out region-wide decisions. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, founded in March 2017, is made up of representatives from the seven councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and a Business Board. The Combined Authority is led by an elected Mayor; the Leaders of Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, together with those of the five other authorities sit on the Combined Authority Board. Further information can be found on their webpage: https://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/
Conservation Area
Areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. You can finds more information on the Councils' websites: Cambridge: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/conservation-areas South Cambridgeshire: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/planning/natural-historic-and-built-environment/historic-environment/conservation-areas/
Densification
Making more efficient use of land, through intensive use of brownfield land, building taller buildings, building on existing residential back gardens or in-between existing buildings, or redeveloping underused sites at higher densities.
Development framework (boundary)
Define where policies for the built-up areas of settlements give way to the more restrictive policies for the countryside. Policy S/7 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018, and shown on the adopted Policies Map, available to view on the following website: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/planning/local-plan-and-neighbourhood-planning/the-adopted-development-plan/south-cambridgeshire-local-plan-2018/
East West Rail link
The East West Rail scheme will re-establish a rail link between Cambridge and Oxford to improve connections between East Anglia and central, southern and western England. The central section will link Bedford to Cambridge. Further information is available on the East West Rail company website: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/
Greater Cambridge
Both areas of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire together.
Greater Cambridge Partnership
A partnership between Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, the University of Cambridge and the Business Board of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to support continued growth of the Greater Cambridge area. Further information can be found in their webpage: https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/
Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.
Grow-on space
Premises suitable for small growing businesses.
GVA / Gross Value Added
A measure of the value of goods and services produced in an area.
Heat Island
Urban areas are often warmer than the surrounding countryside, especially at night, as materials like tarmac and stone, absorbs and stores heat.
Incubator
Provides start-up and scale-up space for companies, including support and services.
Listed Buildings
Structure considered by the Secretary of State (for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) to be 'of special architectural or historic interest' and included in a list of such buildings. The list is maintained by Historic England and is available on-line through the National Heritage List for England.
Local Development Scheme
A document which sets out the timetable for the local development documents that the Council will be producing. The current version is the Greater Cambridge Local Development Scheme 2018 (as updated 2019).
Local Plan
Sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge region.
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
Sets out government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. Available to view online: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2
Neighbourhood Plan
A plan prepared by a Parish Council or neighbourhood forum for a particular neighbourhood area. They must be consistent with the strategic policies in the current suite of Local Plan documents.
Net zero carbon
Net zero carbon means that carbon emissions cannot exceed zero. In practice, a net zero carbon target means that in addition to phasing out fossil fuels and the role of renewable energy and energy reduction measures, there is also a role for balancing a certain measured amount of carbon released with an amount of carbon offsets, through, for example, tree planting or carbon capture and storage.
North East Cambridge Area Action Plan
A joint plan being developed by the Councils for development of the area west of the new Cambridge North train station, together with Cambridge Science Park. Further information can be found on the Councils website: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/north-east-cambridge-area-action-plan
Oxford-Cambridge Arc
An area covering Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge, identified by the Government as a unique opportunity to become an economic asset of international standing.
Oxford to Cambridge Expressway
The Department for Transport has asked Highways England to explore the case for a fast, high-quality road link to better connect Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge. Further Information can be found on Highways England website: https://highwaysengland.co.uk/oxford-to-cambridge-expressway-about/
Productivity
Being able to produce or provide goods and services.
Stakeholder
A person, group or organisation that has interest in planning for the area.
Shared ownership
Homes in which the occupier owns a share of the property and pays rent on the remainder, typically to a housing association or local authority.
Standard method
A government formula that helps councils to work out how many homes are needed in a given local area. Details of the standard method can be found on the government's 'planning guidance - Housing and economic needs assessment' website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/housing-and-economic-development-needs-assessments
Start-up
The early stage of a new business.
Sustainable development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
