20-minute neighbourhood - A flexible approach to assessing our places against the concept of local living. A method of achieving connected and often compact neighbourhoods designed in such a way that people can meet most of their daily needs within a reasonable distance of their home preferably by sustainable and active travel methods. The principle can be adjusted to include varying geographical scales from cities and urban environments, to rural and island communities. Housing would be planned together with local infrastructure including schools, community centres, local shops and health and social care to significantly reduce the need to use unsustainable methods of travel, to prioritise quality of life, help tackle inequalities, increase levels of health and wellbeing and respond to the climate emergency.

4G - 4G is the fourth generation of mobile phone technology, following 2G and 3G. 2G technology was suitable for making calls and sending text messages, while 3G makes it possible to access the internet more effectively through devices such as a mobile, tablet or laptop. It’s ideal for services that demand more capacity, like video streaming, mapping and social networking sites.

5G - 5G is much faster than previous generations of wireless technology. 5G also offers greater capacity, allowing thousands of devices in a small area to be connected at the same time.

Adoption - Adoption is the process by which the Local Development Plan becomes the Local Development Plan for the National Park and can be used for determining planning applications.

Affordable housing – housing of a reasonable quality that is affordable to people on modest incomes, including social rented accommodation, mid-market rented accommodation, shared ownership, shared equity, discounted low-cost housing for sale including plots for self-build, and low-cost housing without subsidy.

Ancient woodland - Woodland that is recorded on the inventory of ancient and long established semi-natural woodland held by NatureScot, and has been established for many hundreds of years.

Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) - An Inventory of woodland sites that are thought to have been continuously wooded since 1750 or 1860.

Appropriate Assessment - An assessment carried out by a planning authority as part of Habitat Regulations Appraisal to determine whether it can be concluded that there will be no adverse effects on the integrity of a European site from a development proposal. If the planning authority is unable to reach this conclusion, the development proposal can only be approved in the most limited of circumstances.

Biodiversity - The variability in living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are part. This includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems (UN Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992).

Blue infrastructure - Water environment features within the natural and built environments that provide a range of ecosystem services. Blue features include rivers, lochs, wetlands, canals, other water courses, ponds, coastal and marine areas including beaches, porous paving, sustainable urban drainage systems and raingardens.

Brownfield - Land which has previously been developed. The term may cover vacant or derelict land, land occupied by redundant or unused buildings and developed land within the settlement boundary where further intensification of use is considered acceptable.

Buildings at Risk Register - The Buildings at Risk Register (BARR) for Scotland (buildingsatrisk.org.uk) has been in operation since 1990 and highlights properties of architectural or historic merit that are considered to be at risk. Buildings at risk are not necessarily in poor condition, they may simply be standing empty with no clear future use or be threatened with demolition.

Business and industry - Business, general industrial and storage and distribution uses and smaller scale business uses such as home-working, live-work units and microbusinesses.

Carbon capture utilisation and storage - Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) encompasses the methods and technologies used to capture the carbon dioxide generated by largescale energy intensive processes, such as power generation and industrial processes, and transport that captured carbon dioxide for safe and permanent storage deep underground in a geological formation. In some applications, the captured carbon dioxide can be recycled and used to manufacture useful products, thus giving it economic value.

Carbon-rich soils - Organo-mineral and peat soils are known as carbon-rich soils. A peat soil is defined in Scotland as when soil has an organic layer at the surface which is more than 50cm deep. Organo-mineral soil or peaty soil is soil which has an organic layer at the surface less than 50cm thick and overlies mineral layers (e.g. sand, silt and clay particles). There is also a relatively rare group of soils in Scotland known as humose soils. These have organic rich layers with between 15 and 35% organic matter. These are mineral soils but also considered to be carbon rich.

Carbon sequestration - The long-term removal, capture, or sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow or reverse atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution and to mitigate or reverse climate change.

Carbon sink - A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores CO2 for an indefinite period.

Circular economy - A circular economy is one that is designed to reduce the demand for raw material in products; to encourage reuse, repair and manufacture by designing products and materials to last as long as possible in line with the waste hierarchy.

Climate change adaptation - Climate change adaptation is about responding to the changes that we have seen in our climate over the last few decades, and preparing for the challenges that we will face as our climate continues to change.

Climate change mitigation - Climate change mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent emissions of greenhouse gasses, which have a direct impact on global average temperatures, and reducing the current concentration of carbon dioxide by enhancing carbon sinks (for example, increasing the area of forest).

Community - A body of people. A community can be based on location (for example people who live or work in or use an area) common identity (for example a shared ethnicity, language, age) or common interest (for example the business community, amenity, sports, social or heritage groups).

Community facilities - Buildings or services used by the community, including community halls, recreation centres and libraries.

Community hub - A community hub is a multi-purpose centre, such as a community centre, medical centre or school, that provides a range of high quality and cost effective services to the local community.

Community wealth building - A people-centred approach to local economic development, which redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places control and benefits into the hands of local people.

Compensation - Where mitigation measures are unable to fully address the loss of natural heritage interest on-site then this may be compensated for off-site to an equivalent level. This may be through creation, restoration or enhancement of habitat, through financial compensation or a combination of both may be considered. Compensation is not always feasible, for example in the case of either glacial landforms or ancient woodland, where the timescales for restoration are impossible within reasonable timescales.

Conservation Area - Areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.

Constitution - Constitution is the term used to refer to the Local Development becoming part of the adopted Development Plan.

Cultural Significance - Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific or social value for past, present or future generations. Cultural significance can be embodied in a place itself, its fabric, setting, use, associations, meanings, records, related places and related objects.

Cumulative impact - Impact in combination with other development. That includes existing developments as appropriate, those which have permission, and valid applications which have not been determined. The weight attached to undetermined applications should reflect their position in the application process.

Custom-build housing - Where a person tasks a house builder to tailor a home to their preferences before it is built.

Decarbonisation - Reducing the amount of gaseous carbon compounds released by buildings, activities or operations.

Deliverable housing land pipeline - The expected sequencing of the Local Housing Land Requirement over the short (1-3 years), medium (4-6 years) and long-term (7-10 years), set out in the local development plan delivery programme.

Deliverable land - Land that is free from constraints or there is a commitment to overcome constraints, and development is able to be delivered in the period identified for the site within the Deliverable Housing Land Pipeline.

Delivery Programme - The Delivery Programme sets out how an authority proposes to implement its Local Development Plan.

Derelict land - Previously developed land which is un-remediated and/or which has a constraint caused by its previous use which hampers its redevelopment or naturalisation.

Development - 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 building or other land.

Development Plan - The planning system in Scotland is plan-led. The law says that decisions on planning applications are to be made in accordance with the Development Plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The statutory Development Plan for any place in Scotland consists of the National Planning Framework, which covers all of the country, and the Local Development Plan for the planning authority area where the place is.

Development Plan Scheme - Each year the Park Authority needs to publish a Development Plan Scheme (DPS). The DPS is an important communications tool, letting stakeholders know when and how they can get involved in the plan and keep them informed of progress.

Ecosystem services - The benefits people obtain from ecosystems.

Egress (safe, flood free pedestrian access and egress) - A route for the movement of people (not vehicles) of all abilities (on foot or with mobility assistance) between the development and a place of safety outwith the design flood level.

Enabling development - Enabling development is development that would otherwise be unacceptable in planning terms, but is essential, to secure the future of an historic environment asset or place which is at risk of serious deterioration or loss.

Equality Impact Assessment - An equality impact assessment is a tool that helps ensure decisions, practices and policies within organisations are fair and do not discriminate against any protected group. The Equality Impact Assessment for the Local Development Plan also includes the Fairer Scotland Assessment.

Essential infrastructure - Essential infrastructure includes digital communications infrastructure; telecommunications infrastructure; all forms of renewable, low-carbon and zero emission technologies for electricity generation and distribution and transmission electricity grid networks and primary sub stations; water and waste water infrastructure; and transport proposals and travel networks identified in the local development plan.

European Protected Species - Species listed on Annex IV of the Habitats Directive as species of European Community Interest and in need of strict protection.

European Sites - Name given to sites within the Natura 2000 network of European Unionwide nature conservation sites established under the EC Habitats Directive. This network will comprise Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

Evidence Report - A supporting document to the local development plan. An evidence report summarises the evidence base for those proposals and policies set out in the development plan and demonstrates that appropriate consultation has been undertaken and regard given to the views of the community.

Examination - The examination is a key stage In the preparation of the Local Development Plan during which any issues raised during the formal consultation on the Proposed Plan that have not been resolved through modifications will be considered by an independent person appointed by Scottish Ministers.

Fairer Scotland Assessment - A Fairer Scotland Assessment is a tool that helps ensure that certain public sector organisations pay due regard to how they can reduce inequalities of outcome caused by socio-economic disadvantage, when making strategic decisions. The Fairer Scotland Assessment for the Local Development Plan has been incorporated into the Equality Impact Assessment.

Flood - The temporary covering by water from any source of land not normally covered by water, but not including the overflow of a sewage system.

Flood risk - The combination of the probability of a flood and the potential adverse consequences associated with a flood, for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.

Forestry and Woodland Strategy - A strategy prepared by a planning authority either singly or in collaboration with other planning authorities, which sets out policies and proposals for the development of forestry and woodlands in their area, according to [section A159] of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

Gardens and Designed Landscapes - The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes recognises sites where garden grounds and landscapes have been intentionally laid out for artistic effect which are of national importance. Their selection, assessment and designation is carried out by Historic Environment Scotland. Designed landscapes are managed primarily through the planning process by the appropriate planning authority.

Green infrastructure - Features or spaces within the natural and built environments that provide a range of ecosystem services.

Green networks - Connected areas of green infrastructure and open space, that together form an integrated and multi-functional network.

Green recovery - An economic recovery that helps us work toward net zero emissions in a way that is fair and that maximises the opportunities to deliver a thriving, sustainable economy.

Green space - Space, other than agricultural land, which serves a recreational or an amenity function for the public, or provides aesthetic value to the public such as areas of grass, trees, other vegetation, and water.

Gate Check - The Gate Check is a key stage in the preparation of the Local Development Plan. During this stage a person appointed by Scottish Ministers will independently examine the Evidence Report to determine if it has sufficient information to prepare a Local Development Plan.

Habitat Regulations Appraisal - An appraisal carried out by a planning authority to determine whether a development proposal would be likely to have significant effects on any European site or designated area, either alone or in combination with other plans or projects. If likely significant effects are identified, the HRA moves on to an Appropriate Assessment.

Historic Battlefields - The Inventory of Historic Battlefields recognises sites where a nationally important battle took place, soldiers fought and died, and where significant military activities happened. Their selection, assessment and designation is carried out by Historic Environment Scotland. Battlefields are managed primarily through the planning process by the appropriate planning authority.

Historic environment - The historic environment is ‘the physical evidence for human activity that connects people with place, linked with the associations we can see, feel and understand’.

Historic environment asset - An asset (or ‘historic asset’ or ‘heritage asset’) is a physical element of the historic environment – a building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having cultural significance.

Historic Environment Scotland - Historic Environment Scotland safeguards the nation’s built heritage and promotes its understanding and enjoyment on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

Housing Association - A non-profit making organisation committed to meeting specific housing needs.

Housing Land Audit - Housing Land Audits are produced by Local Authorities and provide Information on the available housing land within there areas.

Housing Need and Demand Assessment - Housing Need and Demand Assessments are produced by Local Authorities and provide estimates on the future number of additional housing units needed to meet existing and future housing need and demand. They Inform the preparation of Local Development Plans and Local Housing Strategies.

Hut - A simple building used intermittently as recreational accommodation (i.e. not a principal residence); having an internal floor area of no more than 30 square metres; constructed from low-impact materials; generally not connected to mains water, electricity or sewerage; and built in such a way that it is removable with little or no trace at the end of its life. Huts may be built singly or in groups.

Infrastructure first - Putting infrastructure considerations at the heart of placemaking.

Just transition - Ending our contribution to climate change in a way that is fair and leaves no one behind.

Listed Buildings - Buildings are ‘Listed’ because they are considered to be of special architectural or historic interest and as a result require special protection.

Local Authority - Local authorities in Scotland provide a range of public services, such as education, housing and planning, social care, roads and transport, economic development, environmental protection, and waste management. There are five local authorities within the National Park boundary – Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray, and Perth and Kinross.

Local authority supported affordable housing plan - Plans or strategies for housing approved by a local authority e.g. Local Housing Strategy, Strategic Housing Investment Plan or future versions of such documents.

Local Development Plan – Alongside National Planning Framework 4, the Local Development Plan forms part of the statutory Development Plan. The Local Development Plan enables the right kind of development to happen in the right place to help deliver the aims of the Cairngorms National Park.

Local housing land requirement - The amount of land required for housing, as identified by the local development plan. The Local Housing Land Requirement (LHLR) is expected to exceed the 10-year Minimum All-Tenure Housing Land Requirement (MATHLR) set out in National Planning Framework 4.

Local Housing Strategy - Local Housing Strategies were introduced as part of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 to widen the strategic and enabling role for local authorities in relation to housing in their area. The Local Housing Strategy (LHS) sets out the outcomes the Council and its partners want to achieve, and the actions they will take, to address housing need and demand in their area.

Local outcomes Improvement plan - A local outcomes improvement plan (LOIP) is produced by a community planning partnership (CPP), and describes its local priorities, what improvements the CPP plans for its local communities, and when it will make these improvements. The LOIP covers the whole of the council area that the CPP is responsible for.

Locality Plan - A locality plan is produced by a CPP, and describes its local priorities, what improvements the CPP plans for its local communities, and when it will make these improvements. A locality plan covers a smaller area within a whole CPP area, or may also be produced for groups who share common interests or features, for example, young people leaving care or vulnerable adults.

Local Place Plan - A Local Place Plan is a proposal by a community body about the development and use of land.

Market housing - Housing which is bought and sold on the open market without restrictions.

Masterplan - A strategic scheme within which a location is proposed to be regenerated or changed in order to meet a perceived challenge or strategic need.

Minimum all-tenure housing land requirement - There is a statutory requirement for National Planning Framework 4 to contain targets for the use of land in different areas of Scotland for housing. To meet this, the National Planning Framework includes a Minimum All-Tenure Housing Land Requirement (MATHLR) for each planning authority in Scotland. The MATHLR is the minimum amount of land, by reference to the number of housing units, that is to be provided by each planning authority in Scotland for a 10 year period, as set out in Annex E. The MATHLR is expected to be exceeded in the local development plans Local Housing Land Requirement

Mitigation - Activities that aim to avoid or minimise adverse effects of development. In the context of natural heritage, mitigation is defined as on-site activities that aim to avoid or minimise adverse effects on the natural heritage. This may include amendment to design and layout as well as practical measures such as carrying out works at a particular time of year to avoid disturbing nesting birds or hibernating bats.

National Planning Framework 4 – National Planning Framework 4 is the long-term plan for Scotland, developed by Scottish Government, that sets out where development and infrastructure is needed to support sustainable and inclusive growth. Alongside the Local Development Plan, it forms part of the statutory Development Plan and contains thematic policies for determining planning applications.

National Park Partnership Plan - The National Park Partnership Plan is the management plan for the Cairngorms National Park. It sets out how all those with a responsibility for the National Park will coordinate their work to tackle the most important issues. It also acts as the Regional Spatial Strategy for the Cairngorms National Park and provides strategic direction for the Local Development Plan.

National Park - National Parks in Scotland are protected landscapes designated under the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000.

National Scenic Area - Areas of land designated as being of national significance on the basis of their outstanding scenic interest which must be conserved as part of the country’s natural heritage.

National Transport Strategy 2 - The National Transport Strategy sets out an ambitious vision for Scotland’s transport system for the next 20 years. The vision is underpinned by four priorities: Reduces Inequalities, Takes Climate Action, Helps Deliver Inclusive Economic Growth and Improves our Health and Wellbeing, each with three associated outcomes. The Strategy sets out the strategic framework within which future decisions on investment will be made, including the sustainable travel and investment hierarchies.

Nature-based solutions - Nature-based solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human wellbeing and biodiversity benefits.

Nature network - A Nature Network is a joined-up system of places important for wild plants and animals, on land and in water. It allows plants, animals, seeds, nutrients and water to move from place to place and enables the natural world to adapt to change, providing plants and animals with places to live, feed and breed. Effectively functioning nature networks will connect existing nature rich areas through habitat corridors, habitat ‘stepping stones’, or habitat restoration areas.

NatureScot - The public body with a remit to secure the conservation and enhancement of Scotland’s unique and precious natural heritage, i.e. wildlife, habitats, geology and landscapes.

Natural heritage - The natural heritage of the Park includes all species, habitats and ecosystems (biodiversity) together with soils, geology and landform (geodiversity), hydrological regime and the amenity arising from them.

Net zero - Scotland has set a target to become ‘ Net Zero ‘ by 2045. This means the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we put into the atmosphere and the amount we are able to take out will add up to zero.

Open space - Greenspace consisting of any vegetated land or structure, water or geological feature in an urban area and civic space consisting of squares, marketplaces, playgrounds and other paved or hard landscaped areas with a civic function.

Open space strategy - An open space strategy is to set out a strategic framework of the planning authority’s policies and proposals as to the development, maintenance and use of green infrastructure in their district, including open spaces and green networks. It must contain; an audit of existing open space provision, an assessment of current and future requirements, and any other matter which the local authority consider appropriate.

Outdoor sport facilities - Uses where sportscotland is a statutory consultee under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013, which establishes ‘outdoor sports facilities’ as land used as: (a) an outdoor playing field extending to not less than 0.2ha used for any sport played on a pitch; (b) an outdoor athletics track; (c) a golf course; (d) an outdoor tennis court, other than those within a private dwelling, hotel or other tourist accommodation; and (e) an outdoor bowling green.

Participation Statement - The Participation Statement is published in the Development Plan Scheme and outlines when consultation and engagement on the Local Development Plan is likely to take place, with whom and its likely form.

Peatland - Defined by the presence of peat soil or peaty soil types. This means that “peat-forming” vegetation is growing and actively forming peat or it has been grown and formed peat at some point in the past.

Placemaking - Placemaking is the process of creating good quality places that promotes people’s health, happiness and wellbeing. It concerns the environment in which we live; the people that inhabit these spaces; and the quality of life that comes from the interaction of people and their surroundings. Placemaking is a collaborative approach involving the design and development of places over time, with people and communities central to the process.

Place principle - All those responsible for providing services and looking after assets in

a place need to work and plan together, and with local communities, to improve the lives of people, support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and create more successful places.

Play sufficiency assessment - A play sufficiency assessment is the assessment of the sufficiency of play opportunities for children in their area, carried out by a planning authority under the duty as set out in Section 7(5) Part 16D(1) of Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. The assessment forms part of the evidence report for the preparation of the Local Development Plan.

Previously developed land - Land which has previously been developed, sometimes called brownfield land. The term may cover vacant or derelict land, infill sites, land occupied by redundant or unused buildings, and developed land within the settlement boundary where further intensification of use is considered acceptable.

Prime agricultural land & land of lesser quality that is culturally or locally important for primary use - Prime agricultural land is that identified as being Class 1, 2 or 3.1 in the land capability classification for agriculture developed by Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (now the James Hutton Institute). However, for land of lesser quality that is culturally or locally important for primary use (i.e. for example food production, flood management, water catchment management and carbon storage), this value should be recognised in decision-making.

Priority peatland habitat - Peatland habitats can be divided into four broad classes (blanket bog, upland raised bog, lowland raised bog, and fen), depending on the types of plants that formed the peat. Priority peatland habitats are sub-sets of these broad habitats which have been recognised under the Scottish Biodiversity Framework as being important to protect for their conservation and biodiversity value.

Proposed Plan - The Proposed Plan is the first draft of the Local Development Plan. The Proposed Plan will identify where new development should take place and where it should not and set out local place-based policies for determining planning applications. The public will be asked to give their views on the Proposed Plan through a formal consultation.

Protected characteristics - The Equality Act defines the following as protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Protected species - Wild species of animal, plant or fungi that are protected by law and against which an offense may be committed unless a license is obtained. Legal protection is provided by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 as amended, Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as amended and Protection of Badgers Act 1992 as amended.

Public benefits - Public benefits as defined by the current Scottish Government policy on woodland removal.

Public subsidy for housing - Money from the public purse in the form of subsidy schemes (e.g. housing association grants) which is made available to help provide affordable housing.

Ramsar Convention Site - A designation of globally important wetland areas that are classified to meet the UK’s commitments under the Ramsar Convention. Scottish Government Policy states that all Ramsar sites are also Natura 2000 sites and/or Sites of Special Scientific Interest and are protected under the relevant statutory regimes.

Regional Spatial Strategy – The Regional Spatial Strategy is a long-term strategy for an area of land that identifies: the need for strategic development; the outcomes to which strategic development will contribute; priorities for the delivery of strategic development; and its proposed locations, shown in the form of a map or diagram. The National Part Partnership Plan acts as the Regional Spatial Strategy for the Cairngorms National Park

Recycling facilities - Facilities for the purpose of recycling. Recycling means any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes. It includes the reprocessing of organic material but does not include energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or for backfilling operations. It does not include nuclear reprocessing.

Scheduled Monument Record - A record of scheduled monuments which are considered to be of national importance that Scottish Ministers have given legal protection to under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

Scoping Report - The Scoping Report is the first stage of the Strategic Environmental Assessment process for the Local Development Plan and outlines such matters as the assessment methodology and the baseline information used to inform the assessment.

Scotland Ancient Woodland Inventory - A more sophisticated classification of the inventories of ancient, long established and semi-natural woodlands developed for woodlands in Scotland. For Scottish woods, the category Ancient comprises woods recorded as being of semi-natural origin on EITHER the 1750 Roy maps OR the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey maps of 1860. This is due a) to the likelihood of the latter having been omitted from the Roy maps and b) to render the Scottish classification compatible with that for England and Wales.

Scotland Semi-Natural Woodland Inventory - This dataset contains information gathered by remote means using 1970s sources (maps, aerial photos) about the woodland cover present on Ancient and Long Established Woodland Inventory sites. It does not contain information about woods not on the Inventory.

Scottish Water - Scottish Water is a publicly owned body, answerable to the Scottish Government, that provides water and wastewater services in Scotland.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) - The public body with a remit for environmental protection. Acting as Scotland’s environmental regulator, it monitors and reports on the state of Scotland’s environment.

Section 75 agreement - Legal agreement regulating the future use of land, recorded in the Land Register and legally binding on future owners of the land.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - The SSSI series has been developed over the last 50 years as the national suite of sites providing statutory protection for the best examples of the UK’s flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features. These sites are also used to underpin other national and international nature conservation designations.

Self-build housing - Where a person builds their own house or appoints their own builder.

Self-provided housing - Includes self-build housing, custom-build housing and collective build housing.

Setting - Setting is more than the immediate surroundings of a site or building, and may be related to the function or use of a place, or how it was intended to fit into the landscape or townscape, the view from it or how it is seen from areas round about, or areas that are important to the protection of the place, site or building. ‘Setting’ is the way the surroundings of a historic asset or place contribute to how it is understood, appreciated and experienced.

Short term let - The use of a dwellinghouse (a residential house or flat) for rental by persons other than the owner for short periods and for financial or other remuneration. Typically includes properties advertised as being available for holiday let, although can apply to other situations.

Short term let control area - Short Term Let Control Areas can be designated by Local Authorities to help manage short term lets in areas where high concentrations of short term lets affect the availability of residential housing and the character of the local community.

Special Areas of Conservation - Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are designated by the UK Government to meet its obligations under the EC Habitats Directive. They are areas that have been identified as best representing the range and variety within the European Union of habitats and (non-bird) species listed in Annexes I and II to the Directive. They are of global importance.

Special Protection Areas - Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are classified by the UK Government to meet its obligations under the EC Birds Directive. These are areas of the most important habitats for rare (listed in Annex I to the Directive) and migratory birds within the European Union. SPAs are classified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. SPAs, together with SACs, form the European sites network. They are of European importance.

Strategic Environmental Assessment - Strategic Environmental Assessment is a statutory requirement that aims to ensure the environment is a primary consideration in the preparation of the Local Development Plan.

Strategic transport network - Includes the trunk road and rail networks. Its primary purpose is to provide the safe and efficient movement of strategic long-distance traffic between major centres, although in rural areas it also performs important local functions.

Sustainable development - Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (The Brundtland Definition. Our Common Future, The World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987).

Sustainable investment hierarchy - The National Transport Strategy 2 Sustainable Investment Hierarchy will be used to inform future investment decisions and ensure transport options that focus on reducing inequalities and the need to travel unsustainably are prioritised. We also need to focus on maintaining and safely operating existing assets, taking due consideration of the need to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Investment promoting a range of measures, including innovative solutions, to make better use of existing capacity will then be considered, ensuring that existing transport networks and systems are fully optimised. Only following these steps should investment involving targeted infrastructure improvements be considered.

Sustainable tourism - Sustainable tourism is defined by the United Nation World Tourism Organisation as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

Sustainable travel - Sustainable travel includes travel by the top three modes in the sustainable travel hierarchy. It is recognised that in some locations, particularly in rural areas, where the top three modes have been judged as unfeasible for day to day travel, low emissions vehicles and shared transport options will play an important role

Sustainable travel hierarchy - The National Transport Strategy 2 Sustainable Travel Hierarchy should be used in decision making by promoting walking, wheeling, cycling, public transport and shared transport options in preference to single occupancy private car use for the movement of people. The efficient and sustainable freight transport for the movement of goods, particularly the shift from road to rail should also be promoted.

Town centre - Centres which display: a diverse mix of uses, including shopping; a high level of accessibility; qualities of character and identity which create a sense of place and further the well-being of communities; wider economic and social activity during the day and in the evening; and integration with residential areas.

Town centre first - The Town Centre First Principle asks that government, local authorities, the wider public sector, businesses and communities put the health of town centres at the heart of decision making. It seeks to deliver the best local outcomes, align policies and target available resources to prioritise town centre sites, encouraging vibrancy, equality and diversity.

Transport appraisal - A Transport Appraisal should inform the spatial strategy by appraising the impact of the potential spatial strategy options on the transport network, in line with Transport Scotland’s Development Planning and Management Transport Appraisal Guidance. It should determine the potential impacts of development on the transport network and mitigation to address adverse impacts, how they will be funded and who should deliver these.

Transport assessment - A Transport Assessment report should aim to provide supporting evidence to accompany the planning application to demonstrate that the development is sited in a location where current and likely future travel behaviour will produce a desired and predicted transport output. The Transport Assessment should provide information in a suitable form to enable the local authority and, if necessary, Transport Scotland to assess and determine the planning application, seek any changes to the proposal and devise necessary planning conditions or negotiate planning or other legal agreements.

Travel plan - A Travel Plan (TP) is a document that sets out a package of positive and complementary measures for the overall delivery of more sustainable travel patterns for a specific development. Their ability and success in influencing travel patterns is dependent upon the commitment of the developer or occupier of a development and the enforcement of travel plan monitoring by the local authority. Travel plans should be implemented to encourage a shift in transport mode for those travelling to and from a development.

Tree Preservation Order - A Tree Preservation Order is made by the local planning authority (usually a local council) to protect specific trees or particular woodland from deliberate damage and destruction.

Unused or underused land - An area of land that is stalled awaiting development, or a pocket of land within neighbourhood that is not developed or cannot be developed for other meaningful use or does not have particular identified long-term use.

Vacant land - Previously developed land, without physical constraint, which the Planning Authority has indicated is currently available for redevelopment.

Veteran tree - A veteran tree can be classified as such due to age (including relative age for its species) or for its biological, aesthetic, or cultural interest. Veteran trees are usually mature and provide additional habitat from natural damage, environmental conditions or management (e.g. coppice, decay hollows, fungal fruiting bodies, cavities).

Wellbeing economy - Building an economy that is inclusive and that promotes sustainability, prosperity and resilience, where businesses can thrive and innovate, and that supports all of our communities across Scotland to access opportunities that deliver local growth and wellbeing.

Woodland - Land under stands of trees with a canopy cover of at least 20%, or having the potential to achieve this, including integral open space, and including felled areas that are awaiting restocking (replanting). The minimum area is 0.1 ha and there is no minimum height.

Viability - A measure of whether the value generated by a development is more than the cost of developing it (this includes looking at the key elements of gross development value, costs, land value and developer return). In town centre terms, a measure of a town centre’s capacity to attract ongoing investment, for maintenance, improvement and adaption to changing needs.

Vitality - A measure of how lively and busy a town centre is.

Water environment - The water quality, quantity, hydrology, hydromorphology and aquatic ecology of water bodies, river systems, wetlands and groundwater.

Wild Land Areas - Areas that were identified by NatureScot in 2014. They are the most extensive areas where high wildness qualities (perceived naturalness, ruggedness, remoteness and lack of human artefacts) can be found. They are a non-statutory designation considered to be of national importance.

Wildness - The quality experienced within areas of wild land character, dependant on physical attributes of perceived naturalness, ruggedness of terrain, remoteness and visible absence of modern artefacts.

Windfall sites - Sites which become available for development unexpectedly and are therefore not included as allocated land in the Local Development Plan.