Panel

This is a panel of persons appointed by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State to conduct the examination-in-public into a draft revision of a Regional Spatial Strategy.

Passenger Transport Authority

A statutory body (in some parts of the country), responsible for ensuring the area has an effective and integrated public transport system.

Passive Solar Heating

A solar heating system using a simple solar collector, building materials, or an architectural design to capture and store the sun's heat. Very simple examples include a garden greenhouse, or a south-facing window in a dwelling.

Permitted Development (or Permitted Development Rights)

Permission to carry out certain limited forms of development without the need to make an application to a local planning authority, as granted under the terms of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order.

Permitted Reserves

Mineral deposits with the benefit of planning permission for extraction.

Phasing or Phased Development

The phasing of development into manageable parts. For example, an annual rate of housing release for a large development that may need to be controlled so as to avoid destabilising housing markets and causing low demand.

Photovoltaics / photovoltaic cells.

Conversion of solar radiation (the sun's rays) to electricity by the effect of photons (tiny packets of light) on the electrons in a solar cell. For example, a solar-powered car or a calculator.

Plan, Monitor and Manage (PMM)

Approach to housing provision involving three elements:

• Planning for an overall annual rate and distribution of housing

• Monitoring provision against targets and indicators

• Managing the process

Plan-led system

The principle that the decisions upon planning applications should be made in accordance with the adopted development plan, unless there are other material considerations that may indicate otherwise.

Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

The Act updates elements of the 1990 Town & Country Planning Act. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduces:

• a statutory system for regional planning

• a new system for local planning

• reforms to the development control and compulsory purchase and compensation systems

• removal of crown immunity from planning controls.

Planning Advisory Service

A service set up by the government to help and advise local planning authorities struggling to meet best value performance targets for development control.

Planning Aid

Planning Aid provides free and independent advice and support to community groups and individuals unable to employ a planning consultant.

Planning Condition

Condition attached to a planning permission.

Planning Delivery Grant

PDG is providing about GBP605m over six years (2003-2008), to resource and incentivise regional planning bodies and local authorities to improve the planning system and deliver sustainable communities. Allocations are based on assessment of performance across a range of planning functions.

Planning for Real

A consultation method involving creative exercise (for example, the use of maps and model buildings) designed to engage the public in plan making.

Planning Gain

The benefits or safeguards, often for community benefit, secured by way of a planning obligation as part of a planning approval and usually provided at the developer's expense. For example, affordable housing, community facilities or mitigation measures.

Planning Inspectorate

The Planning Inspectorate is the government body responsible for:

• the processing of planning and enforcement appeals

• holding inquiries into local development plans

• listed building consent appeals

• advertisement appeals

• reporting on planning applications called in for decision by the Secretary of State or in Wales with the National Assembly for Wales

• examinations of development plan documents and statements of community involvement

• various compulsory purchase orders, rights of way cases; and cases arising from the Environmental Protection and Water Acts and the Transport and Works Act and other highways legislation are also dealt with.

The work is set in agreement with Department for Transport, the Department for Communities and Local Government  and the National Assembly for Wales.

Planning Obligations and Agreements

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. For example, the provision of highways. Sometimes called "Section 106" agreements.

Planning Out Crime

The planning and design of street layouts, open space, and buildings so as to reduce the actual likelihood or fear of crime, for example by creating natural surveillance.

Planning Permission

Formal approval sought from a council, often granted with conditions, allowing a proposed development to proceed. Permission may be sought in principle through outline planning applications, or be sought in detail through full planning applications.

Planning Policy Guidance (PPG)

Issued by central government setting out its national land use policies for England on different areas of planning. These are gradually being replaced by Planning Policy Statements.

Planning Policy Statement (PPS)

Issued by central government to replace the existing Planning Policy Guidance notes in order to provide greater clarity and to remove from national policy advice on practical implementation, which is better expressed as guidance rather than policy.

Planning Portal

A national website provided by the government for members of the public, local planning authorities and planning consultants. The Planning Portal features a wide range of information and services on planning.

Playing Field

Land laid out with a pitch or pitches for games.

Pollution Prevention and Control / Integrated Pollution Control

A system of regulations and permit regime designed to prevent or reduce pollution.

Port

A harbour or sheltered piece of water into which boats can enter for repair, to trade or to allow passengers to board and depart.

Precautionary Principle

Taking action now to avoid possible environmental damage when the scientific evidence for acting is inconclusive but the potential damage could be great.

Preferred Areas

An area within a mineral consultation area containing mineral resources which can be identified with a high degree of provision and where there is a strong presumption in favour of extraction.

Previously Developed Land (PDL) or 'Brownfield' 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. Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (Housing) has a detailed definition.

Primary Aggregates

Naturally occurring sand, gravel and crushed rock used for construction purposes.

Primary Shopping Area (or Primary Shopping Frontage)

An area where retailing and the number of shops in a town centre is most concentrated.

Prior Approval

A procedure where permission is deemed granted if the local planning authority does not respond to the developer's application within a certain time. Often relating to telecommunication or agricultural developments.

Private Open Space

Open space that is usually privately owned and is not usually accessible by members of the public.

Protected Species

Plants and animal species afforded protection under certain Acts and Regulations.

Proximity Principle

Requires that waste should be managed as near as possible to its place of production, reducing travel impacts.

Public Art

Permanent or temporary physical works of art visible to the general public, whether part of a building or free-standing. For example, sculpture, lighting effects, street furniture, paving, railings and signs.

Public Open Space

Urban space, designated by a council, where public access may or may not be formally established, but which fulfils or can fulfil a recreational or non-recreational role (for example, amenity, ecological, educational, social or cultural usages).

Public Realm

Those parts of a village, town or city (whether publicly or privately owned) available, for everyone to use. This includes streets, squares and parks.

Public Right of Way

A public right of way is a highway over which the public have a right of access along the route.