Glossary

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Abstraction Licenses
Issued by the Environment Agency to individuals or companies permitting them to abstract water from surface or underground sources.

Affordable housing
Affordable housing is both low-cost market and subsidised housing (irrespective of tenure, ownership - whether exclusive or shared - or financial arrangements) that will be available to people who cannot afford to rent or buy houses generally available on the open market.

AONB Abbreviation, see Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Arcading A series of arches and their supports.

Arch Bracing A timber member placed diagonally to strengthen a frame.

Area of Special Control of Advertisements
Designated by the local planning authority, with the Secretary of State's approval, to control advertisements in rural areas or other areas which require special protection on grounds of amenity.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
A designation made by the Countryside Commission under Section 87 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 defining areas of particular natural beauty which are in need of special protection and enhancement.

Bargeboards Projecting, often decorated, boards set against the incline of a gable.

Biodiversity
The variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

Biofuel resources
New technology is developing the means for the efficient conversion of biological matter, such as crop residue, animal waste, domestic waste and coppiced wood, into electrical energy. This type of biological material is classed as a renewable energy source and is collectively termed a biofuel resource.

BoIection moulding
A decorative profile given to woodwork defining openings or panels, usually incorporating two opposite curves.

Bow Usually describing a window that is gently curved across its width.

Box Sign An advertisement on translucent material that is illuminated from behind.

Broads Authority
The Broads Authority was created by the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 to manage the Broads. With similar powers to those of the national park authorities, it is also the Local Planning Authority for the area.

Broads
Is a wetland area of 42 broads, navigable waterways, marshes and fens in the river valleys of Norfolk and Suffolk.

Brundtland Commission
The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (1987), commonly referred to as the Brundtland Commission after its chairperson Gro Harlem Brundtland.

BS Abbreviation for British Standard.

Buttress A structure of masonry or brickwork built against a wall to give additional strength.

Cantilever bracket
A timber member placed diagonally to support a projecting structure, e.g. a porch canopy.

Capital The head or top part of a column, usually decorated.

Carbon dioxide fixing The process whereby carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by plants and

Casement Part of a window that can be opened, being hinged at the side.

Catchment area
A geographical area from which a particular use, such as shopping or education, is likely to attract customers or users.

Catslide The continuation of a roof slope down to a lower level.

Change of use
The material change in the use of any building or land occurs when the change is such as to make a substantial difference to what went before in character and effect.

Chevron A repetitive V-shaped or zigzag pattern.

Cladding A material fixed to a wall for weatherproofing or decorative purposes.

Clunch Hard chalk used mainly for internal wall construction.

Collar
A horizontal timber member in a roof structure that ties together two opposite rafters, usually in the upper half of a roof.

Coast Protection Authority
Under the terms of the Coast Protection Act of 1949, each maritime district council has powers to protect the coastline from erosion and encroachment by the sea.

Coastal Erosion Risk Areas Areas of coastal land likely to suffer erosion within the next sixty years.

Community care
The provision of health and social care which enables vulnerable persons to live as independently as possible in their own homes or in a homely setting within the community.

Community Care Plan
The Community Care Plan is produced by the Social Services Department in collaboration with the Health and Housing Authorities; it outlines the health and social needs of local people and the services to be provided to meet those

Comparison goods Items such as clothes, house furniture and electrical goods that are purchased by comparative selection.

Conservation Area
An area of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. The authority to designate a Conservation Area is given under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, as amended.

Console
A bracket, usually of wood, in the form of a heavy scroll, often found at the ends of a traditional shop-front fascia.

Convenience goods
Food and everyday household items that are generally purchased locally.

Corbel
A block of stone or brick projecting from a wall face to provide support for another structure or feature.

Corbelling
Continuous projecting courses of brickwork used for support, protection and decoration.

Core Retail Areas
Identified by the North Norfolk District-wide Shopping Study. These are areas within each of the seven towns of North Norfolk where the majority of shopping facilities exist and where the shopping function is to be protected.

Coved ceiling
That part of a ceiling which is attached to the underside of rafters; found where a room is wholly or partially in the roof space.

Crow-stepped Where the profile of a gable is formed by a series of steps.

Cruciform Usually used to describe a window where the principal divisions are arranged symmetrically in the form of a cross.

Cruck Usually curved beams which, set vertically, provide support for both the walls and the roof of a cottage.

Dentil course
A course of bricks which project in various ways to make a decorative band often in conjunction with a second or third course. Usually used to decorate eaves and verges.

Development
This is defined. subject to certain provisions, in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, as: 'the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land'.

DIY Abbreviation for Do it Yourself.

Dormer Formed by a window set vertically on a roof slope having its own roof and walls (or cheeks).

Drip mould
A projecting course of bricks or moulded stone located above windows to protect them from rainwater running down the face of the wall.

Dutch gable Where the profile of the gable is a series of alternating curves and steps.

EA Abbreviation, see Environment Agency.

Eaves Overhanging horizontal edge of a roof.

Employment land supply Land free or readily freed from planning, physical and ownership constraints for employment uses.

English Heritage
English Heritage is the agency responsible in England for, inter alia, advising central and local government on the historic environment (including Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Scheduled Ancient Monuments).

English Nature
English Nature is the agency responsible in England for advising central and local government on nature conservation, and for monitoring, research and promotion of wildlife and natural features.

Environment Agency
The Environment Agency was created on 1 April, 1996 as a result of the Environment Act 1995. Its creation merged the responsibilities and expertise of the National Rivers Authority, Her Majesty's
Inspectorate of Pollution and the Waste Regulation Authorities. Its purpose is to provide a more comprehensive approach to the protection and management of the environment by combining the regulation of land, air and water, and to work towards sustainable development.

Environmental assessment
Environmental assessment is a process by which information about the likely environmental effects of certain major projects is collected, assessed and taken into account by the local planning authority in deciding whether planning permission should be granted.

Eutrophic
Relating to water that is rich in nutrients and therefore supporting a dense plant population, which kills animal life by depriving it of oxygen.

Faced bricks Bricks to which a decorative surface has been applied.

Fascia A board applied to the eaves of a building or above a shop-front.

Feather edge boarding
Boarding which reduces in thickness across its width to allow for overlapping when used for cladding or fencing.

Finite mineral resources Refers to minerals and fossil fuels of which limited stocks exist.

Flooding (fluvial) Freshwater flooding that occurs when streams and rivers overflow their banks.

Flooding (tidal) Flooding in coastal areas as a result of the sea breaching the coastal defences.

Gable Triangular upper part of the wall at the end of a pitched roof.

Galleting Small elongated slivers of flint pressed into mortar for decorative effect.

Glacial terminal moraine Earth and rock deposits left at the end of the Ice Age.

Global warming
The increase in the average temperature of the earth thought to be caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse effect
The process by which certain gases in the atmosphere behave, in effect, like glass in a greenhouse: glass allows solar radiation in, which heats the interior, but reduces the outward emission of heat radiation.

Greenhouse gases
Naturally occurring gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and ozone, and man1I1ade gases like chlorofluorocarbons which absorb some of the sun's radiation and convert it into heat.

Hazardous installations Sites that store or use hazardous substances.

Hazardous substances Those substances specified in the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 1992.

Health and Safety Executive
A government body responsible for administering the legislation of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and advising planning authorities on issues relating to hazardous installations and substances.

Historic Parks and Gardens
Those purposefully landscaped parks and gardens, often associated with large country houses, which have survived from previous times and are regarded as worthy of protection for their important landscape and historic interest.

Horns Extensions to the side members of the upper frame that protrude below the sash of a vertically sliding window.

Housing land supply Land free or readily freed from planning, physical and ownership constraints for housing.

Housing needs survey
A survey, undertaken by consultants on behalf of the Housing and Planning departments of the Council, to determine the quantity and nature of housing need in North Norfolk.

HSE Abbreviation, see Health and Safety Executive.

Hung tiles Flat but often shaped tiles used to clad vertical surfaces for weathering or decorative purposes.

IDB Abbreviation, see Internal Drainage Boards.

Internal Drainage Boards Local management boards that administer areas with special drainage requirements.

Listed Building
A building designated by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, as amended, as having special architectural or historic interest.

LNR Abbreviation, see Local Nature Reserves.

Local Nature Reserves
Areas of land that are of special nature conservation interest locally. LNRs are declared and managed by local authorities under Section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

MAFF Abbreviation for Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mansard roof A roof having two sloping surfaces on each side of the ridge, the lower of which is steeper that the upper.

Minor Road Scheme A scheme for road works in the TPP expected to cost between £0.25m and £2m.

Mullions Principal vertical members that divide a window.

National Nature Reserves
Areas of high nature conservation value which are managed in order to preserve animals, plants and geological and physiographical features of special interest, and to provide opportunities for their research and study. NNRs are declared by the country conservation agencies under Section 16 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

NNR Abbreviation, see National Nature Reserves.

Norfolk Coast Project
The Norfolk Coast Project is jointly funded by Norfolk County Council, North Norfolk District Council, King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council and the Countryside Commission. Its aims are to reconcile the needs of the local communities and tourism with those of conservation in the AONB.

Norfolk Structure Plan
A statutory document containing strategic planning policies for Norfolk which is prepared by Norfolk County Council in accordance with Regional Planning Guidance.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust The Norfolk Wildlife Trust manages nature reserves in Norfolk and campaigns on issues relating to local wildlife.

North Norfolk Design Guide
First introduced in 1974, the guide has offered advice on the design of new buildings, extensions and renovations for over twenty years. Updated again in 1995, it is incorporated in the Local Plan as Part D.

North Norfolk Heritage Coast
Defined by the Countryside Commission in April 1975; this is a non-statutory designation. The primary purpose of heritage coast definition is to focus attention on the management needs of our finest undeveloped coasts.

NPFA Abbreviation for National Playing Fields Association.

ONS Abbreviation for Office for National Statistics.

Open access Recreational sites where, generally, the public have unrestricted access.

Open Land Areas Areas of open space that provide visual amenity in built-up areas.

Outwash Material deposited by streams originating from a melting glacier.

Pantile Tile having a curved S shaped profile.

Parapet gables Where the gable wall is continued above its abutment with the roof covering.

Pegtile Otherwise known as plain or pintiles. A flat rectangular tile of clay or concrete.

Permitted development
Development for which planning permission is granted under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, as amended.

Pilaster A flat pier attached to a wall, often used with a fascia to frame a traditional shop-front.

Plain tile See pegtile.

Planning Obligations See Section 106 Obligations.

Planning Policy Guidance notes
Issued by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; Planning Policy Guidance notes set out the Government's policies on different aspects of planning and provide guidance to local authorities and others on the operation of the planning system.

Play areas An area of land reserved specifically for use by children for the purposes of play.

Potable Drinkable.

PPG Abbreviation, see Planning Policy Guidance notes.

Pudding stone Small flints and other pebbles bedded in a compound mainly of silica.

Quoin Dressed stone or brickwork at the angles of a building.

Ramsar Site
An area of wetland designated by the Secretary of State under the 'Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat' for the purpose of its conservation.

Rebate A continuous right angled cut out in the edge of a piece of timber, e.g. in a door frame to house the door.

Reed A wetland plant used for thatching.

Regional Planning Guidance for East Anglia (RPG6)
Issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment in 1991 following consideration of the regional strategy prepared by the Standing Conference of East Anglian Local Authorities (SCEALA) in 1989. The primary aim of the guidance is to provide a framework for the updating of the Structure Plans for Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk up to the year 2006.

Render Cement or lime plaster covering to a wall face.

Repairs Notice
A repairs notice can be issued by a local planning authority under Section 48 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, as amended, requiring those with interests in a Listed Building to take the necessary measures for its preservation.

Retail hierarchy Describes the levels of retail activity within North Norfolk.

RPG Abbreviation, see Regional Planning Guidance for East Anglia.

Rubble dressing Roughly cut stone for quoins.

Rural Development Area
A priority area into which the Rural Development Commission (see below) targets the financial and other assistance it provides.

Rural Development Commission
The Rural Development Commission is the main agency charged by the Government with the task of promoting the economic and social wellbeing of rural areas in England.

Rural Development Programme
For each Rural Development Area a Rural Development Programme is prepared. These are intended to provide a mechanism by which all local interested parties -local authorities, community councils and others - can work together to identify the particular needs and priorities for action within their Rural Development Areas.

Scheduled Ancient Monument
A nationally important archaeological site or monument, scheduled by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, as amended, which enjoys special protection.

Section 106 Obligation
Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, makes provision for a planning obligation to be entered into by means of a unilateral undertaking by a developer or by agreement between a developer and a local planning authority regarding the provision of certain types of benefit in connection with the granting of planning permission. Such obligations may restrict development or use of the land; require operations or activities to be carried out in, on, under or over the land; require the land to be used in any specified way; or require payments to be made to the authority either in a single sum or periodically.

Segmental arch Full or half bricks used on end to form a shallow curved arch

Serviced visitor accommodation Guest accommodation where meals are provided and the rooms are serviced regularly.

Sheltered housing
A group of self-contained dwellings, generally for elderly residents, supervised by a warden living on site who can offer assistance in an emergency.

Simplified Planning Zones
To encourage development or redevelopment a Local Planning Authority may declare an area a Simplified Planning Zone. This, in effect, invests the land with planning permission for specified types of development. Providing development is for the same use and commences within 10 years, further planning permission is not required.

Site of Special Scientific Interest
An area notified by English Nature under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as being of national or international importance by reason of its flora, fauna or geological or physiographical features.

Smut tile A clay tile having a dull black finish.

Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
An area to be designated by the Secretary of State under the 'EC Council Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora: The Habitats Directive' following agreement with the EC Commission. Designation of a SAC will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity by requiring the Government to conserve natural habitats and wild fauna and flora of Community importance.

Special Protection Area (SPA)
An area designated by the Secretary of State under the 'EC Council Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds: The Birds Directive'. Designation of a SPA provides for the protection, management and control of nominated species of naturally occurring wild birds and their eggs, nests and habitats.

SPZ Abbreviation, see Simplified Planning Zones.

SSSI Abbreviation, see Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Stallriser A dwarf brick or timber wall below the sill of a shop-front window.

Stone cladding Artificial or reconstituted stone used to cover an existing wall face.

Structure Plan See Norfolk Structure Plan.

Swept head Usually referring to a window frame having a slightly curved top member.

Tandem residential development
The siting of a dwelling immediately to the rear of an existing dwelling and, in most cases, sharing the same access.

Thatch Roofing material of reed or straw.

TPP Abbreviation, see Transport Policies and Programme.

Traceried window The ornamental openwork in a window as found in churches.

Traffic calming
Measures to reduce speed and discourage unnecessary traffic from using roads in residential areas or areas of high pedestrian activity.

Traffic management
Measures adopted to establish clear priorities for access by different means of travel, avoid congestion problems in central areas, enhance the street environment and improve road safety.

Traffic management studies Studies undertaken to identify the best methods of traffic management for the area under review.

Transom Principal horizontal members that divide a window.

Transport Policies and Programme
Published annually by Norfolk County Council, it contains the Highway Authority's future road programme and transport policies. The document also forms the bid to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for Transport Supplementary Grant.

Transport Supplementary Grant The Government grant paid to the Highway Authority (the County Council) to help finance its transport programme.

Travelling showpeople Travelling showpeople are self-employed business people who travel the country holding fairs, chiefly during the summer months.

Tree Preservation Order
Local authorities are authorised under Section 198 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, to make orders for the preservation of trees in the interests of amenity.

TSG Abbreviation, see Transport Supplementary Grant.

Tumbling in A vernacular detail found on a gable where brick courses are laid at right angles to the verge to produce a triangular pattern.

Unserviced visitor accommodation
A term that encompasses the different types of self-catering accommodation such as caravans, chalets and holiday flats.

Ventilation slits Narrow vertical openings usually in a barn wall.

Vernacular Traditional local architectural style.

Yorkshire boarding Spaced vertical timber slats often found cladding the upper part of modern agricultural buildings.

Yorkshire sash A window in which the opening light slides horizontally.

Wensurn Valley Project
The Wensum Valley Project is a joint venture between the Countryside Commission and local authorities in Norfolk. The project seeks to protect the special character of the Wensum Valley from insensitive change by implementing landscape improvements, managing wildlife and habitat and increasing local and visitor awareness of the area.

Wheelchair housing
Housing purposefully constructed to cater for those persons reliant upon wheelchairs for mobility.

Wind energy
The United Kingdom, because of its windy climate, particularly in coastal locations, has the potential to exploit this renewable resource. Historically, this energy source was exploited by Norfolks many windmills for the purposes of milling and pumping water; whereas today's advanced technology uses the wind to generate electricity.