Maisonette

A flat with more than one level.

Management Plan

A plan for the detailed, sometimes day-to-day management or conservation of important areas, including nature conservation, archaeology, or historic sites, in order to maintain and enhance those special features or qualities.

Marine Dredged Aggregate

Sand and gravel dredged from deposits on the seabed and landed at shipping wharves for use as aggregate.

Marine Nature Reserves

Sites designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to conserve marine flora and fauna or geological or physiographical features.

Market Towns

Small to medium-sized country towns that are rural service, social and economic centres. Most also hold or used to hold a regular market. 

Master Plan

A type of planning brief outlining the preferred usage of land and the overall approach to the layout of a developer. To provide detailed guidance for subsequent planning applications.

Mast-sharing (including mobile phone masts)

More than one antenna sharing a mast or a site, perhaps helping to reduce visual impact.

Material Consideration

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

Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)

A facility for sorting and packing recyclable waste.

Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT)

The treatment of residual waste using a combination of mechanical separation and biological treatment.

Mineral

Rock or other material that has a commercial value when extracted.

Mineral Consultation Area

An area identified in order to ensure consultation between the relevant minerals planning authority, the minerals industry and others before certain non-mineral planning applications made within the area are determined.

Mineral Development

Any activity related to the exploration for or winning and working of minerals, including tipping of spoil and ancillary operations such as the use of processing plant.

Mineral Planning Authority (MPA)

The planning authority responsible for planning control of minerals development. County councils are normally responsible for mineral and matters for their area.

Minerals Local Plan

A statutory development plan prepared by a minerals planning authority under transitional arrangements, setting out policies for the control of development constituting of the winning and working of minerals or the deposit of mineral waste.

Minerals Planning Guidance Note (MPG)

Documents issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government setting out government policy and advice on minerals planning issues. (Currently being replaced by Minerals Planning Policy Statements).

Mineral Planning Statement (MPS)

Minerals Planning Statements are published by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Minerals Planning Statements will eventually replace Minerals Planning Guidance Notes.

Mineral Resource

A potential mineral deposit where the quality and quantity of material present has not been tested.

Minerals Reserves

Mineral deposits which have been tested to establish the quality and quantity of material present and which could be economically and technically exploited.

Mixed use (or mixed use development)

Provision of a mix of complementary uses, such as residential, community and leisure uses, on a site or within a particular area.

Minerals Planning Guidance Note (MPG)

Documents issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government setting out government policy and advice on minerals planning issues. (Currently being replaced by Minerals Planning Policy Statements).

Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA)

An enclosed area, using a synthetic grass or hard surface for playing sports, for example five-a-side soccer or netball.

Multimodal Study

A detailed study that considers the problems and solutions affecting all forms of travel along a particular route. Multimodal studies assess against government objectives of accessibility, economy, environment, integration and safety.

Multiple Retailer

A company chain of stores.

Multiplier Effect

The extended impact of an economic action upon business activity and/or upon employment. For example, a new major business may place orders with a smaller one helping to create extra jobs.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

Household waste and any other waste collected by a waste collection authority such as municipal parks and gardens waste, beach cleansing waste and waste resulting from the clearance of fly-tipped materials.