GlossaryProperty & Planning Glossary

What do these acronyms and other odd words mean?

This property glossary page will explain what the various acronyms and other phrases which are often banded around in property, planning and development. The page of jargon busters is constantly being added to, so please check back often. At the last count we have around 500 entries in the glossary!  The most comprehensive property A to Z that you will find!! If you can find a better glossary – let us know!! It was probably copied from here – if it exists!! 

If something is missing from the property glossary, let us know. Where we have information about a phrase, we will link to the relative page or section.

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AADF
AADT
AAWT
AAI
ACM
ACM
ACV
Adopted Road
Adopted Plan
ADS
AF
AGLV
AIA
AIB
AIP
Affordable
Amenity
AML
Ancient Woodland
AoHNE
AONB
AP
Appeal
Appellant
AQA
AQMA
Article 2(3) Land
Article 2(4) Land
Article 2(5) Land
Article 4
ARLA
ASDT
ASHP
ASLI
ASR
ASSI
AST
AT
BC
BBL
BMRV
BMV
BNG
BoE
BOPAS
BREEAM
BRMV
Broads
Brownfield land
BRR
BRRR
BTL
BTS
Build to Rent
CA
CAD
Catchment
CBIL
CBR
CC
CCJ
CDM
CEMP
CERTASS
CfSH
CGI
CGT
CH
CHP
CIAT
CIBSE
CIL
CIOB
CIS
CLEUD
CLG
CLOPUD
CLT
CLU
CML
Coalescence
COCR
COL
Commuted Payment
Conservation Area
Core Strategy
COSHH
CPO
CPR
CPSE
CPZ
CRM
CT
Curtilage
D&B
D&O
DAPHS
DAPHS
DAS
dB
DC
DCLG
DD
Decision Notice
DEFRA
Density
Development
Development Plan
DIP
DLA
DMDPD
DMPO
DPC
DPD
DPEA
DPH
DPM
DPP
DQRA
DTV
Dwellinghouse
E&O
EA
EBITDA
EDC
EIA
EICR
Employment Land
EOT
EPC
ERC
EUV
EWS1
Extant
FCA
FENSA
FH
FLEEA
Flood plain
FM
FMV
FR
FRA
FRA
FRI Lease
FTB
FW&T
Gateway Site
GCH
GDPR
GDV
GEA
GFCH
GIA
GLA
GP
GPDO
GQRA
GR
Grampian
Green Belt
Greenfield
GSC
GSHP
Habitable Room
HBS
HCA
HHSRS
Highway
HMO
HMRC
HNWI
HOTs
HPI
HPL
HRA
HSE
HTB
HVAC
IAQM
ICOMOS
ICR
IFA
IHBC
IHT
IL
Inclusive Design
Infrastructure
IO
IPMS
IPMS 1
IPMS 2
IPMS 3
IRI
IRR
JCT
JSL
Judicial Review Period
JV
JVP
KPI
KSA
KYC
LA
LABC
LAD
LAP
LBC
LBC
LBTT
LCRM
LDC
LDF
LEAP
LEMP
LEP
LH
LIBOR
Listed building
LL
LLA
LLFA
LLD
LLP
LO
Local Plan
Locally Listed
LPA
LPE1 Form
LTC
LTD
LTT
LTV
Major Development
Massing
Material Considerations
MBC
MCOB
MCM
MCS
MDC
MEES
MHCLG
Minor Development
MOS
MV
MVHR
MVP
MW
National Parks
NAEA
NALS
Natura 2000
NDEPC
NDHA
NEAP
Neighbourhood Plan
NHBC
NIA
NIA
NIMBY
NLA
NLUD
NMIS
NP
NPPF
NPPG
NR
NSA
NSG
NSIPs
OAO
OCH
OIEO
OIRO
OMV
OO
Open Space
OPM
OPP
Original Building
OS
OTO
Outline Application
Out of Town
Outrigger
PA
PA
PAT
PCA
PCM
PCPA
PD
PDL
PEA
PEDW
Peppercorn Rent
Permeable Surface
PG
PG
PINS
PiP
Planning Condition
Planning Obligation
Planning Permission
Plot Ratio
Policy Map
POA
POA
PoC
PP
PP
PPE
PPG
PPR
Pre-App
Prior Approval
Proposals Map
PRA
PRT
PS13/3
PS14/4
PTAL
PV
PW
PWA
QS
QUANGO
R2R
Refusal
Regeneration
Reserved Matters
RHI
RIBA
RICS
RIDDOR
ROCE
ROE
ROTE
ROI
ROR
RP
RPA
RPI
RSL
RTM
RTPI
RX1
RX2
RX3
RX4
S102
S104
S106
S171
S184
S257 HMO
S278
S38
S50
S73
S96A
SA
SAC
Safeguarded land
SAMM
SANG
SAP
SARB
SASS
SBI
SDLT
SEA
SFRA
SHLAA
SHMA
SIPP
SIPs
SL
SLA
SMC
SNCI
SoS
SPA
Space Standards
SPD
SPG
Splays
SPP
SPV
SSAS
SSCLG
SSE
SSSI
SSTC
SSTCM
STPP
SuDS
SUE
Sui Generis
Sustainable Development
SV
SVR
TCPA
TDC
The Broads
TOGC
TPO
Transport Assessment
Travel Plan
TS
UCO
UDP
UDPRN
UKAS
Unadopted
UPRN
Use Classes
USRN
VC
Vergée
Vesting Order
VF
Visibility Splay
VOA
VP
WHS
Wildlife Corridor
X-Axis
Y-Axis
YIMBY
Zero-carbon
Annual Average Daily Flow (also see AADT)
Annual average daily traffic is the total volume of vehicle traffic on a road for a year divided by 365
Annual average weekday traffic
Areas of Archaeological interest
Asbestos Containing Material
Aluminium Composite Material (cladding)
Asset of Community Value
A highway that is maintained at public expense
Confirmation of the finalisation of a development plan or local development document by the LPA
Additional Dwelling Supplement to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in Scotland
Angel Finance
Area of Great Landscape Value
Arboricultural Impact Assessment
Asbestos Insulation Board
Agreement in Principle
Social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing provided to eligible households
A positive element or elements that contribute to the overall character or enjoyment of an area
Anti Money Laundering
A area that has been wooded continuously since at least 1600 AD
Ardaloedd o Harddwch Naturiol Eithriadol (AONB in Welsh)
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Adverse Possession
Process to challenge a negative planning decision.
One who appeals to the inspectorate regarding a refusal for planning
Air Quality Assessment
Air Quality Management Area
Conservation Area, AONB, the Broads, National Park, World Heritage Site
National Park, the Broads, certain land just outside a National Park
Areas within certain Local Authorities where restrictions to the GPDO exist
Direction removing some or all permitted development rights
Association of Residential Letting Agents
Average Summer Daily Traffic
Air Source Heat Pump
Areas of Special Landscape Importance
Asbestos Survey Report
Area of Special Scientific Interest
Assured Shorthold Tenancy
Assured Tenancy
Borough Council
Bounce Back Loan
Below Market Value
Below Mortgage Redemption Value
Biodiversity Net Gain
Bank Of England
Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (how “green” a new building is)
Broad Rental Market Area
The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads
Land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure
Buy Refurb Refinance
Buy, Refurb, Rent, Refinance, and Repeat
Buy to Let
Buy to Sell
Purpose built housing that is 100% rented out
Capital Allowances
Computer Aided Design
Designated area within which specific policies may apply
CoronaVirus Business Interruption Loan
Californian Bearing Ratio – a penetration test used to evaluate the subgrade strength of roads and pavements
County Council or City Council
County Court Judgement
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
Construction Environmental Management Plan
Certification and Assessment – UKAS approved Certification Scheme that checks individual contractors and companies competence against set standards
Code for Sustainable Homes
Computer Generated Image
Capital Gains Tax
Central Heating
Combined Heath and Power
Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists
Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers
Community Infrastructure Levy
Chartered Institute of Building
Construction Industry Scheme
Certificate of Lawful Existing Use or Development
Department for Communities and Local Government (now the MHCLG)
Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Use or Development
Cross-Laminated-Timber construction
Certificate of Lawful Use
Council Mortgage Lenders
Merging ot coming together of separate towns or villages to form a single entity
Cash On Cash Return
Certificate of Lawfulness (listed buildings)
Payment made in lieu of recreational open space or affordable housing
Area of special architectural or historic interest
Document setting out long term spatial vision for the LPA
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Compulsory Purchase Order
Civil Procedure Rules
Commercial Property Standard Enquiries
Controlled Parking Zone
Capital Repayment Mortgage
Council Tax
The area, usually enclosed, encompassing the grounds and buildings immediately surrounding a home
Design and Build (a popular form of building procurement)
Directors & Officers Insurance
Design, Access, Planning and Heritage Statement
Don’t Awake Planner He’s Sleeping
Design and Access Statement
Decibel
District Council
Department for Communities and Local Government (now the MHCLG)
Due Diligence
Planning approval or permission issued by the LPA on a planning application
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
A measurement of either number of habitable rooms or number of dwellings per hectare
Defined in the 1990 Town & Country Planning Act describing “the carrying out of building, engineering, operation in, on or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any building or other land”
Statutory Development Plan setting out the policies that direct future development in an area
Decision in Principle
Disability Living Allowance
Development Management Development Plan Document
Development Management Procedure Order (England) 2015
Damp Proof Course
Development Plan Document
Planning & Environmental Appeals Division in Scotland
Dwellings per hectare
Damp Proof Membrane
Detailed Planning Permission
Detailed Quantitative Risk Assessments (Phase 3) – See GQRA & PRA 
Direct to Vendor
Property containing a single person or by people to be regarded as forming a single household
Errors & Omissions
Estate Agent
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation
Exchange with a Delayed Completion
Environmental Impact Assessment
Electrical Installation Condition Report
Land identified for business, general industrial or storage and distribution as per the Use Classes
Extension of Time
Energy Performance Certificate
Early Repayment Charge
Existing Use Value
External Wall Survey Process – for external cladding on taller residential buildings
Planning permission which is still valid and able to be implemented. It has been started.
Financial Conduct Authority
Fenestration Self Assessment Scheme
Freehold
Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion, Aircraft (Insurance)
Low-lying areas adjacent to a watercourse, tidal lengths of a river or the sea, which can flood
Force Majeure
Fair Market Value
Fixed Rate
Flood Risk Assessment
Fire Risk Assessment 
Full Repairing & Insuring Lease
First Time Buyer
Fair Wear and Tear
Key development area usually identified and containing opportunities for prominent prestige developments
Gas Central Heating
General Data Protection Regulation
Gross Development Value – the value of all the units on a site
Gross External Area – the area of a building measured externally
Gas Fired Central Heating
Gross Internal Area – the area of a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter wall
Greater London Authority
Gross Profit
General Permitted Development Order (England) 2015
Generic Quantitative Risk Assessments (Phase 2) – See DQRA & PRA 
Gross Return
Planning condition preventing the build until off-site works have been completed on land not controlled by the applicant
Land around large built-up areas, which aims to keep this land permanently open or largely undeveloped
A site which has never previously been developed (now known as Previously Developed Land)
Gas Safety Certificate
Ground Source Heat Pump
Includes lounges, bedrooms, kitchens, studies, conservatories etc., but not bathrooms , cupboards etc.
Help to Buy Scheme
Homes and Communities Agency
Housing Health and Safety Rating System
A road or footpath that is adopted or unadopted by the highways authority
House of Multiple Occupation
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
High net worth individuals
Heads of terms
House Price Index
High Pressure Laminate (cladding)
Habitat Regulations Assessment
Health and Safety Executive
Help to Buy
Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Institute of Air Quality Management
International Council on Monuments and Sites
Interest Cover Ratio
Independent Financial Advisor
Institute of Historic Building Conservation
Inheritance Tax
Invert Level (pipes)
Designing the built environment to ensure that they can be accessed and used by everyone
Buildings, roads, schools, leisure facilities, churches, play areas, public open spaces etc.
Interest Only
International Property Measurement Standards
New international standard for Gross External Area (GEA)
New international standard for Gross Internal Area (GIA)
New international standard for Net Internal Area (NIA)
Internal Repairing Insuring (Lease)
Internal Rate of Return
Joint Contracts Tribunal – standard forms of contract for use by the construction industry
Joint and Several Liability
A period of 6 weeks whereby a process of challenging the lawfulness of decisions of public authorities, usually local or central government
Joint Venture
Joint Venture Partner
Key Performance Indicator
Key Shopping Area
Know Your Client/Customer – ID checking with solicitors etc.
Local Authority
Local Authority Building Control
Liquidated and Ascertained Damages (re a JCT)
Local Area for Play
Listed Building Consent
London Borough Council
Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in Scotland (similar to English Stamp Duty)
Land Contamination Risk Management (contains PRA (phase 1), GQRA (phase 2) & DQRA (phase 3)
Lawful Development Certificate
Local Development Framework
Local Equipped Area for Play
Landscape & Ecological Management Plan
Local Economic Partnership
Leasehold
London Interbank Offered Rate
A building of special architectural or historic interest
Landlord
Local Landscape Areas (Scotland)
Lead Local Flood Authority
Local Landscape Designations
Limited Liability Partnership
Lease Option
A development plan prepared by district and other local planning authorities
A building that’s been listed by the local authority. Not quite a listed building.
Local Planning Authority
Leasehold Property Enquiries Form
Loan to Cost
Limited Company
Land Transaction Tax in Wales (similar to English Stamp Duty)
Loan to Value
10 dwellings or more or a site greater than 0.5 hectares or a floor area of 1,000 sq. m. or more
Combined effect of the arrangement, volume and shape of a building or group of buildings in relation to other buildings and spaces
Consideration relating to the purpose of planning legislation
Metropolitan Borough Council
Mortgage Conduct of Business rules
Metal Composite Materials (cladding)
Microgeneration Certification Scheme for wind turbines and air source heat pumps
Metropolitan District Council
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
9 dwellings or less, or a site under 0.5 hectares or a proposed floor area of 999 sq. m. or less
Memorandum of sale
Market Value
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery
Minimum Viable Product
Minor Works Contract
Nationally designated areas for protection of the landscape
National Association of Estate Agents
National Association of Letting Agents
A European network of protected sites consisting of SAC and SPA
Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate
Non Designated Heritage Asset (see Locally Listed)
Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play
Document prepared by a Parish or Town Council or Neighbourhood Forum
National House Building Council Scheme
Net Internal Area – the useable area within a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter walls
Noise Impact Assessment
Not In My Back Yard
National Landlords Association
National Land Use Database – Land Use and Land Cover Classification
Non Mainstream Investment Scheme
Net Profit
National Planning Policy Framework
National Planning Policy Guidance
Net Return
Net Sales Area
National Street Gazetteer
Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
On the application of (often related to planning applications within appeals)
Oil Central Heating
Offers In Excess Of
Offers in The Region Of
Open Market Value
Owner Occupier
Open space of public value including land, water, canals, rivers, lakes and reservoirs
Other People’s Money: Using other people’s money to purchase property
Outline Planning Permission
As a building existed on 1st July 1948 or if after when it was first constructed
Ordnance Survey
Open To Offers
Planning permission to establish that the principle of planning is acceptable
Location outside of the existing urban area
Either a one or two storey on the rear of a Victorian house containing kitchen, scullery etc. (original structure)
Per Annum
Prior Approval
Portable Appliance Testing
The Property Care Association
Per Calendar Month
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
Permitted Development
Previously Developed Land (formerly known as brownfield)
Predicted Energy Assessment
Planning and Environment Decisions Wales
A token or nominal rent. The name comes from leases where the ground rent is one peppercorn a year now now usually £1 a year. 
Designed to allow rainwater to infiltrate through the surface
Planning Gain
Personal Guarantee
Planning Inspectorate for England
Permission in Principle
A condition imposed on a grant of planning permission
A legally enforceable obligation entered into under Section 106 to mitigate the impacts of a development proposal
Planning approval confirmed via a decision notice
The proportion of a development site covered by buildings
See Proposals Map
Price On Application
Power Of Attorney
Profit on Cost
Planning Permission
Purchase Price
Personal Protective Equipment
Planning Policy Guidance
Principal Private Residence
Pre planning application advice
A form of permitted development for a change of use
Part of the local plan showing development zones within the local community (or Policy Map)
Preliminary Risk Assessment (Phase 1) – See GQRA & DQRA 
Private Residential Tenancy (Scotland)
FCA restrictions on the marketing of unregulated investments to members of the public
FCA regulatory approach to crowdfunding over the internet
Public Transport Accessibility Levels (Transport for London)
Photovoltaic (solar) panel
Per Week
Party Wall Agreement or Act
Quantity Surveyor
Quasi Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisation
Rent to Rent
Formal written notice that a planning application has been refused
The economic, social and environmental renewal and regeneration of an area
One or more matters reserved in an outline planning permission – access, appearance, layout, scale and landscaping
Renewable Heat Incentive
Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
Return on Capital Employed
Return on Equity
Return on Time Employed
Return on Investment
Rate of Return
Registered Provider
Root Protection Area for trees
Retail Price Index
Registered Social Landlords are government-funded not-for-profit organisations that provide affordable housing
Right to Manage
Royal Town Planning Institute (Chartered Town Planner)
Application to register a restriction on a property title preventing certain types of transactions affecting the property being registered at Land Registry
Application for an order that a restriction be disapplied or modified
Application for an order to cancel a restriction on the title of land or property
Application to withdraw a restriction placed via an RX1
Section 102 is an agreement for an already installed sewer to be adopted
Section 104 is an agreement to adopt a new sewer
Section 106 is a legal agreement between an applicant seeking planning permission and the local planning authority, which is used to mitigate the impact of your new home on the local community and infrastructure
Section 171  for works to a highway, such as a vehicle access or placing materials on the road
Section 184 is for a temporary vehicle crossing over a footway prior to a Section 278 or a Section 38 agreement or a dropped kerb
A building converted into flats before 1992 & less than 2/3rds owner-occupied
Section 278 allows developers to enter into a legal agreement to alter the public highway
Section 38 is an agreement to make a road to adopted by the local authority
Section 50 allows for apparatus to be installed beneath a highway
Section 73 allows for minor material amendments to planning permission or an Application for removal or variation of a condition following grant of planning permission
Ability to make ‘non-material’ amendments to planning permission under S96A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Serviced Accommodation
Special Area of Conservation
Land which is designated for future development
Strategic Access Management and Monitoring
Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace
Standard Assessment Procedure – assessing the energy rating for a new home
Sale and Rent Back
Small Self Administered Scheme
Site of Biological Importance
Stamp Duty Land Tax
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment
Strategic Housing Market Assessment
Self Invested Personal Pension
Structural Insulated Panel system
Supported Living
Special Landscape Areas
Scheduled Monument Consent
Sites of Nature Conservation Importance
Secretary of State
Special Protection Area
Minimum sizes permitted for rooms or residential dwellings
Supplementary Planning Document
Supplementary Planning Guidance
The visibility at the junction of a road. The wider the opening or splay the further one can see
Subject to Planning Permission
Special Purpose Vehicle – a limited company or LLP set up for the sole purpose of one or more sites
Small Self-Administered Pension Scheme
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Secretary of State for the Environment
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Sold Subject To Contract
Sold Subject to Concluded Missives
Subject To Planning Permission
Sustainable Drainage Systems – Managing runoff from buildings and hard standings
Sustainable Urban Extension
Any planning use not falling within a specific use class
Where a development meets the needs of present generation without compromising future generations
Surveyor Valuation
Standard Variable Rate (Mortgage)
Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Technical Details Consent
The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads
Transfer of Going Concern
Tree Protection Order
Setting out the transport issues relating to a proposed development
Management strategy for an organisation or a site that seeks to deliver sustainable transport objectives
Title Split
Use Classes Order – the Town & Country (Use Classes) Order puts properties into various planning categories
Unitary Development Plan
Unique Delivery Point Reference Number – deliverable address from Royal Mail
United Kingdom Accreditation Service
A highway that is not maintained at public expense
Unique Property Reference Number – could be houses, offices, bus stops, substations etc.
Classes which categorise land usage into groups
Unique Street Reference Number – all streets in Great Britain
Venture Capitalist
17,640 sq feet (1,639 sq m) in Guernsey or 19,360 sq feet (1,798.6 sq m) in Jersey
Order of a court, an administrative agency, or public officer passing the legal title in lieu of a legal conveyance
Venture Finance
The visibility at the junction of a road. The wider the opening or splay the further one can see.
Valuation Office Agency
Vacant Possession Value
World Heritage Site – A cultural or natural site of outstanding universal value designated by the ICOMOS
Areas of habitat connecting wildlife populations
Horizontal axis on a chart
Vertical axis on a chart
Yes, In My Back Yard campaign group – opposite to NIMBY
Over a year, the net carbon emissions from all energy use in the home are zero

If you can add to this property glossary please let us know.

 

Glossary Page Updated:  26th March 2023

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