Agent: a person or business appointed by an applicant for planning permission to make the application on their behalf. Where an agent has been appointed we will correspond with them rather than the applicant.

Amenity: the pleasant or normally satisfactory aspects of a location which contribute to its overall character and enjoyment of residents or visitors.

Ancillary Use: a subsidiary use connected to the main use of a building or piece of land.

Appeal: the process where an applicant can challenge the decision on an application by means of written representations, an informal hearing or formal inquiry proceedings. Appeals can also be made against the failure of the Planning Authority to issue a decision, against conditions attached to a permission and against the issue of an enforcement notice. These are made depending on the application type to either a Local Review Body or to the Scottish Government Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA).

Applicant: a person or organisation making a planning application. They do not have to own the land as long as the owner is notified.

Approval required by a condition (ARC): approval of conditions which are stipulated as part of granting planning permission in principle.

Approval of reserved matters (ARM): approval of conditions for planning permission in principle - approval of conditions which are stipulates as part of granting planning permission in principle.

Article 4 Direction: an order by the planning authority, requiring a planning application to be made where normally permitted development rights would apply. All of the City's Conservation Areas apart from the Rosemount Conservation Area, and also including the majority of Kingswells, is covered by an Article 4 Direction.

Brownfield Site: land which has been previously developed, excluding mineral workings or other temporary uses.

Business Improvement District: a defined area where businesses choose to pay an additional tax in order to fund improvements to the local trading environment and public realm.

Block Plans: a plan showing position of any existing and/or proposed buildings within a site as a whole. Site levels may also be shown on this plan.

Called in Application: a planning application referred to the Scottish Government ministers for determination by virtue of the powers contained in section 46 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

Change of Use: a change from one class to another as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1997.

Commencement of Development: development works have started on site.

Commitments: All land with current planning permission or allocated in local plans.

Completion of Development: development works have been completed on site.

Compulsory Purchase Order: notice issued by the government or a local authority to acquire land or buildings for public interest purposes.

Conditions: stipulations attached to a planning permission to limit or direct the manner in which a development is carried out.

Contaminated Land: land which has been polluted or harmed in some way rendering it unfit for safe development.

Conservation Area: an area given protection under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas)(Scotland) Act 1997, in order to preserve and enhance its character and townscape.

Consultation: procedures for assessing opinions about a planning application including the means of obtaining views of affected neighbours or others with an interest in the proposal.

Conterminous: land which has a common boundary bordering the application site.

Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA): If a local authority has refused consent or grants consent subject to conditions, the applicant has the right of appeal to the Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Ministers may uphold or dismiss the appeal, or reverse or vary any part of the decision of the planning authority.

Delegated Powers: a power conferred to designated planning officers by locally elected members so that the officers may make decisions of specific planning matters and applications on behalf of the council.

Departure: a proposed development which in not in accordance with the local plan.

Derelict Land: land so damaged by industrial or other development that it is incapable of beneficial use without treatment.

Design and Access Statement: statements required for applications which are major or national developments, local developments in conservation areas or in the curtilage of a listed building. These show how the development related to features around it and how provisions are made for access for the disabled.

Development: the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change of use of any buildings or land.

Development Brief: document providing information to guide developers on the type of development, design and layout constraints and other requirements of a particular site.

Development Plan: the Development Plan sets out our policies for the development and use of land within the City. This includes the Structure Plan and the Local Plan, both of which are important when determining planning applications.

Enforcement: procedures by the Planning Authority to ensure that the terms and conditions of a planning decision are carried out, or that development carried out without planning permission is brought under control.

E-Planning: the provisions to submit, view and comment on planning applications online in order to make the planning system simpler and more accessible.

Established Use: a use which does not conform to a plan but against which enforcement action cannot be taken often because of the length of time a use has been in operation.

Fees for Planning Applications: The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications)(Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 which make provision for the payment of fees to planning authorities for most applications for planning permission.

General Permitted Development Order (GPDO): the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 grants rights to carry out certain limited forms of development without the need to make an application for planning permission.

Greenfield Site: an area not previously used for built development.

Habitable Room: all living rooms and bedrooms, but not kitchens, bathrooms, WC's or circulation space, are normally regarded as habitable for the purpose of density calculations.

Hierarchy of development: a planning application submitted to the authority will fall into one of three tiers of decision making. Applications will either be classed as local, major or national developments. The level chosen is related to the scale and significance of the development.

Infrastructure: permanent resources serving society's needs, including roads, sewers, schools, hospitals, railways etc.

Invalid: an application submitted that does not meet all planning requirements will be considered invalid until all relevant information is received. A letter advising the reason or reasons why is sent to the agent or applicant and the application is not processed in the meantime.

Lawful Development: a procedure by which existing or proposed uses and other forms of development can be certified as lawful for planning purposes. An application has to be made to the Planning Authority and there is a right of appeal against their decision.

Lessee: a person who receives the use and possession of leased property in exchange for payment of funds.

Listed Building: a building or other structure of special architectural or historic interest included on a statutory list and assigned a category of A, B or C(s).

Listed Building Consent: permission required for the alteration or demolition of a listed building.

Local Plan: statutory land use plan prepared by the Planning Authority setting out detailed policies for environmental protection and development.

Local Development: applications classed as 'local' will normally be determined under delegated powers given to case officers.

Local Review Body: a board consisting of at least three locally elected members where appeals relating to local developments can be made. Appeals for non-determination of a planning application can also be made to this body.

Major Development: a development which falls into one or more of nine categories defined in the hierarchy of development. These will be determined by either the area committee or the planning committee.

Material Consideration: a matter which should be taken into account in deciding on a planning application or on an appeal against a planning decision.

National Nature Reserve: an area designated by Scottish Natural Heritage to protect and conserve.

National Developments: relate to specific developments identified in the National Planning Framework. This is the Government's strategy for Scotland's long term spatial development. These developments will require a Pre-Determination Hearing.

Nature Conservation: the preservation, management and enhancement of natural plant and animal communities, and occasionally modified vegetation.

Objection: a term often used to describe a comment against a planning application. This is also known as a representation.

Ordnance Survey Maps: a map produced by the UK's national mapping agency. Each map must contain an appropriate copyright acknowledgement and a valid license number.

Pending Consideration: once an application is valid a letter is sent to the applicant/agent. The status will remain at Pending Consideration until a decision is issued. We may have already requested more information and either be waiting for response or the information is waiting to be re-checked.

Permitted Development Rights: rights to carry out limited forms of development without the need to make an application for planning permission as defined in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992.

Planning Gain: the increase in the value of land which results from planning permission being granted for that land.

Planning Obligation and Agreements: legal agreements between a Planning Authority and a developer ensuring that extra works related to a development are undertaken usually under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

Planning Permission in Principle: this is formerly known as outline planning permission and allows an application to be submitted to find out if the idea of a proposal is acceptable without the need to submit full plans and drawings.

Pre-application Advice: informal advice from a planning officer before a formal application is made to assist applicants in making good quality applications which meet policy objectives.

Pre-application Consultation Report: a report to show that sufficient community engagement has taken place by a developer as part of the pre-application process.

Pre-application Screening: a notice submitted to the authority to determine if a proposal falls into the category of major or national developments and if pre-application procedures will need to be carried out.

Pre-determination Hearing: if an application classified as a major development is significantly contrary to the local development plan then a hearing will be conducted to allow those who have made representations to appear and be heard by the relevant local committee.

Proposal of Application Notice: a notice which must be submitted to the authority at least twelve weeks before the submission of a formal planning application for major and national developments.

Proposals Map: a statutory component of a local plan showing the location of proposals in the plan on an Ordnance Survey map.

Renewable Energy: energy generated from sources that are unlimited, rapidly replenished or naturally renewable such as wind, water, sun and wave.

Ribbon Development: a narrow bank of development extending along one or both sides of a road.

Rural Diversification: activities undertaken in surplus land or buildings to support farming incomes, for example forestry, leisure and tourism.

Schedule 3 Development: Classes of development specified in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2008. Uses include skating rink, hot food shop, licensed premises, cinema, funfair.

Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM): a structure of historical interest placed on a register by Historic Scotland for protection.

Scheme of Delegation: provision to enable decisions to be made by officials under powers given to them instead of applications being considered by elected members at committee.

Scottish Planning Policies (SPP's): a series of documents issued by the Scottish Government setting out policy and advice on planning issues such as housing, transport etc.

Section 75 Agreement: a legally binding agreement between an applicant and the Planning Authority made under Section 75 of the Planning Act. It is used for financial and other contributions, such a play areas, and is used to mitigate the impact of a development on a community.

Stakeholders: anyone who has an interest in a particular development.

Statutory: required by law, usually through and act of parliament.

Structure Plan: statutory land use plan setting out key policies which provide the framework for more detailed policies in local plans.

Sui Generis: uses of land or buildings which do not fall into any of the use classes identified by the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1997, for example theatres, car showrooms and petrol stations.

Supplementary Planning Guidance: additional advice issued by the planning authority expanding upon its statutory policies, as well as other adopted information.

Townscape: the appearance and character of buildings and all other features of an urban area taken together as a whole.

Tree preservation Order (TPO): direction made by the Planning Authority that makes it an offence to cut, top, lop, uproot or willfully damage or destroy a tree without the Authority's permission.

Urban Regeneration the reuse or redevelopment of decaying or rundown parts of older urban areas to bring them new life and economic vitality.

Use Class Order: The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1997 puts uses of land and buildings into various categories, planning permission is not required for changes within the same use class. Changes between different use classes may however require planning permission.

Valid: an application is made valid once it has been checked to ensure all documents have been completed accurately and correct fees paid.

Written Statement: documentary statement of policy, forming part of a development plan submitted by a Planning Authority and requiring formal approval.