Appendix 2: Design Dictionary and Useful References

A
Accessibility: The ability of people to move round an area and to reach places and facilities,
including elderly and disabled people, those with young children and those encumbered with
luggage or shopping.
Adaptability: The capacity of a building or space to be changed so as to respond to changing
social, technological and economic conditions.
Affordable Homes: Housing built (usually by a Housing Association) for sale or rent at a price
level below market rate and kept in this use. It is provided to eligible households whose needs
cannot be met by the market.
Amenity: A pleasant or useful feature or facility. It can also relate to the quality of life enjoyed by
occupants, for example the quietness of their environment.

Backland: Development land behind the rear building line of existing housing or other
development, with access only from the main street or public highway (as opposed to having
development frontage on this street). Backland sites are often on rear gardens.
Biodiversity: The whole variety of life on earth. It includes all species of plants and animals, their
genetic variation and the ecosystems of which they are a part.
Building Line: The line formed by frontages of buildings along a street. The building line can be
shown on a plan.
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM): Is the
leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard
for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe a
buildings environmental performance

Conservation area: An area which is of special historic or architectural character and is worthy of
preservation designated by the Local Planning Authority under the Planning (Listed Buildings and
Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
Context: The setting of a site or area, including factors such as traffic, activities and land uses as
well as landscape and built form.
Core Strategy: A Development Plan Document that sets out the long-term spatial vision for the
local planning authority area, the spatial objectives and strategic policies to deliver that vision.

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Defensible space: Public and semi-public space that is defensible in the sense that it is
surveyed, demarcated or maintained by somebody. Derived from Oscar Newmans 1973 study
of the same name, and an important concept in securing public safety in urban areas. Defensible
space is also dependent upon the existence of escape routes and the level of anonymity which
can be anticipated by the users of the space.
Density: The floorspace of a building or buildings or some other unit measure in relation to a given
area of land. In this guide built density is expressed in terms of number of units per hectare.
Desire Lines: A route that people instinctively wish to travel along, often the shortest or straightest
line between two points.
Development Plan: Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act states that an
authoritys development plan consists of the relevant Regional Spatial Strategy (or the Spatial
Development Strategy in London) and the Development Plan Documents contained within its
Local Development Framework.

Elevation: The faade of a building, or the drawing of a facade.

Enclosure: The use of buildings to create a sense of defined space.
Energy Efficiency: The extent to which the energy consumption of a building or group of buildings
is reduced through the way in which buildings are designed, constructed and arranged on site.

Focal Point: A building or structure that stands out from its background by virtue of its height, size
or some other aspect of its design.
Form: The layout (structure and urban grain), density, scale (height and massing), appearance
(materials and details) and landscape of development.

Greenfield Site: Land upon which no development has previously taken place.
Green Infrastructure: The sub-regional network of protected species, nature reserves, green
spaces and greenway linkages. Green infrastructure should provide (where possible) multi
functional uses (i.e. wildlife, recreational and cultural experiences as well as flood protection and
microclimate control. It should also operate at all spatial scales, from urban centres through to
open countryside.

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Human Scale: The use within development of elements which relate well in size to an individual
human being and their assembly in a way which makes people feel comfortable rather than
overwhelmed.

Infill: Development of a small gap (e.g. 1-5 properties) in an otherwise built up frontage.

Landmark: A building or structure that stands out from its background by virtue of height, size or
some other aspect of design.
Landscape: The character and appearance of land, including its shape, form, ecology, natural
features, colours and elements and the way these components combine. Landscape character
can be expressed through landscape appraisal and maps or plans.
Layout: The way buildings, routes and open spaces are placed in relation to each other.
Legibility: The degree to which a place can be easily understood and traversed.
Lifetime Homes Standards: This is a set of design standards that adds to the comfort and
convenience of the home and supports the changing needs occurring throughout a familys life
cycle. These standards generally exceed the requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations.
Listed Building: Is a building or other structure officially designated by the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance.
Local Distinctiveness: The particular positive features of a locality that contribute to its special
character and sense of place and distinguishes one local area from another.

Massing: The combined effect of height, volume and shape of a building or group of buildings.
Microclimate: This is the climate of a small, specific place in a particular area, as contrasted with
climate of the whole area.
Mixed Use: A mix of, usually complementary, uses within a building, on a site or within a
neighbourhood.

Natural Surveillance: The discouragement of wrong-doing by the presence of passers-by or the

ability of people to be seen out of surrounding windows. Also known as passive surveillance (or
supervision).

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Photovoltaic Roof Tiles: Roof tiles that generate electricity.

Previously Developed Land (PDL): This is land that was or is occupied by a permanent
structure, including the curtilage of the developed land and any associated fixed surface
infrastructure. PDL is often referred to as brownfield land.
PUSH: The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire is a formally constituted organisation
comprising East Hampshire, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Hampshire County Council, Havant,
New Forest, Portsmouth, Southampton, Test Valley and Winchester Councils. They have come
together to improve the economic performance of South Hampshire and enhance it as a place to
live and work.

Scale: The impression of a building when seen in relation to its surroundings, or the size of parts
of a building or its details, particularly as experienced in relation to the size of a person.
Sometimes it is the total dimensions of a building which give it its sense of scale, at other times it
is the size of the elements and the way they are combined. The concept is a difficult and
ambiguous one, often the word is used simply as a synonym for size. Scale is also an
ambiguous term and used by different people in different ways:
The total dimensions of a building which give it its sense of scale and the impression of a
building when seen in relation to its surroundings
The size of parts of a building or its details, particularly as experienced in relation to the size of
a person.
Sometimes it is the size of the elements and the way they are combined.
For clarity the council advise the use of mass and heights in descriptions instead.
Sections: Drawing showing a slice through a building or site.
Sense of Place: Features that create local distinctiveness.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs): There are over 4,000 Sites of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSIs) in England, covering around 7% of the countrys land area. Over half of these
sites, by area, are internationally important for their wildlife, and designated as Special Areas of
Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) or Ramsar sites. Many SSSIs are also
National Nature Reserves (NNRs) or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs).
Special Area of Conservation (SAC): A Special Area of Conservation recommended by the
Government under the European Habitats Directive. An area considered important for its wildlife
population and diversity.
Special Protection Area (SPA): Special Protection Area designated by the Government under the
terms of the European Communities Council Directive 79/404/EEC on the Conservation of Wild
Birds. A site of European importance for birds.
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Storey: A floor level from ground floor upwards. A room in the roof normally constitutes a storey
for example in the case of dormers. However rooms in the roofspace including the use of velux
type windows that preclude overlooking will not be regarded as a storey.
Sustainable: Defined by the Brundtland Commission (1987 and quoted in PPG1) as development
which meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to achieve their
own needs and aspirations. The UKs strategy for sustainable development A Better Quality of
Life (1999) highlights the need for environmental improvement, social justice and economic
success to go hand-in-hand.
Sustainable Development: Development that meets present needs without compromising the
ability of future generations to achieve their own needs and aspirations.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS): Sustainable Drainage Systems are a range of
management practices and control mechanisms that drain surface water in a way that mimics
natural drainage and reduces the adverse impacts on river regimes and the risk of erosion,
flooding and ecological damage.

Topography: A description or representation of artificial or natural features on or off the ground.

Urban Grain: The pattern of the arrangement and size of buildings and their plots in a settlement
and the size of street blocks and junctions.

Vernacular: The way, in which ordinary buildings were built in a particular place, making use of
local styles, techniques and materials and responding to local economic and social conditions.

West of Waterlooville Major Development Area (MDA): A new community is proposed at West
of Waterlooville, one of four Major Development Areas (MDAs) originally required by the
Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2011 (Review). The majority of the development area is
within Winchester District, but a small part is within Havant Borough.

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Useful References and further information

Design and Access Statements
DCLG Circular 1/2006 - Guidance on Changes to the Development Control System
(Department for Communities and Local Government, June 2006) http://www.communities.gov.uk/
index.asp?id=1500620
Design and access statements: how to write, read and use them (CABE, 2006) http://www.cabe.
org.uk/AssetLibrary/8073.pdf
Urban Design
By Design - Urban Design in the Planning System (DETR and CABE, 2000) http://www.cabe.org.
uk/AssetLibrary/1818.pdf
Delivering Great Places to Live (Building for Life, 2005) http://www.cabe.org.uk/AssetLibrary/1189.
pdf
Councillors Guide to Urban Design (CABE, 2004) http://www.cabe.org.uk/AssetLibrary/2310.pdf
Urban Design Compendium (Llewellyn-Davies for English Partnerships and The Housing
Corporation, 2000) http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/publications.htm
The Value of Urban Design (DETR, CABE and UCL Bartlett, 2001) http://www.cabe.org.uk/default.
aspx?contentitemid=700&field=filter&term=Public%20space&type=2
The Cost of Bad Design (CABE, 2006) http://www.cabe.org.uk/AssetLibrary/8125.pdf
Manual for Streets (WSP, TRL , Llewellyn Davies Yeang and Phil Jones Associates on behalf of
Department for Transport) http://www.manualforstreets.org.uk/
Places Streets and Movement: A companion guide to Design Bulletin 32 (DETR, 1998) http://www.
communities.gov.uk/embedded_object.asp?id=1500499
Making Design Work (CABE, 2005) http://www.cabe.org.uk
Paving the Way: How We Achieve Clean, Safe and Attractive Streets (June 2002) http://www.cabe.
org.uk/default.aspx?contentitemid=478
Safer Places - The Planning System and Crime Prevention (CABE/Home Office) http://www.
communities.gov.uk/pub/724/SaferplacestheplanningsystemandcrimepreventionPDF3168Kb_
id1144724.pdf
Secured by Design http://www.securedbydesign.com/

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Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) http://www.cabe.org.uk/

Building for Life http://www.buildingforlife.org
Sustainable Design
Proposals for introducing a Code for Sustainable Homes (ODPM, 2005) http://www.communities.
gov.uk/index.asp?id=1162094
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) is keen to encourage key construction
industry-wide players to embrace the pioneering Sustainability Checklists for Developments
initiative. The South East Checklist can be viewed on www.sustainability-checklist.co.uk
BREEAM - www.breeam.org
EcoHomes - http://www.breeam.org/ecohomes.html
Sustainable Drainage Systems; A Guide for Developers (Environment Agency 2005)
http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/epages/eapublications.storefront/45080818006911d
e273fc0a8029605e1/Product/View/GEHO0305BIQY&2DE&2DP
Sustainable Drainage Systems (list of relevant guidance publications) (Ciria website, 2006)
http://www.ciria.org/suds/publications

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