Term	Definition
Abstraction point	An area or point where water is extracted from either surface water or pumped up from groundwater.
Active travel	Travelling to specific destinations (e.g. work or school) by active modes such as walking or cycling.
Additive (cumulative effects assessment)	Where similar types of impact from a scheme or different developments affect a receptor at the same time and in a similar way e.g. loss of two pieces of woodland of 1ha, resulting in 2ha cumulative woodland loss overall.
ADMS-Roads	Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling System (ADMS)-Roads. A commonly used piece of computer software which is used to model the dispersion of road traffic emissions.
Affected Road Network (ARN)	All roads that trigger any of the traffic screening criteria defined in DMRB LA 105, namely a change between the Do-Something traffic (with the Proposed Scheme) compared to the Do-Minimum traffic (without the Proposed Scheme) in the opening year of: 1) annual average daily traffic (AADT) ≥ 1,000 2) heavy duty vehicle (HDV) AADT ≥ 200 3) a change in speed band 4) a change in carriageway alignment by ≥ 5 m
Aggregates	Minerals which are used primarily to support the construction industry including soft sand, sand and gravel, and crushed rock.
Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)	An area declared by a local authority which has been determined will exceed the relevant air quality objective.
Air Quality Objectives (AQOs)	The target date on which exceedances of an air quality standard (i.e. concentrations recorded over a given time period, which are considered to be acceptable in terms of what is scientifically known about the effects of each pollutant on health and on the environment) must not exceed a specified number.
Air quality threshold	Generic term to represent the relevant pollutant averaging period and concentration value described by the air quality strategy objectives or EU limit values.
Ambient noise	Ambient noise is the total sound in a given situation at a given time usually composed of sound from many sources, near and far.
Annual average daily traffic (AADT)	A description of daily traffic characteristics for the representative average seven-day period (Monday to Sunday).
Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP)	Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) refers to the probability of a flood event occurring in any year. The probability is expressed as a percentage. For example, a large flood which may be calculated to have a 1% chance to occur in any one year, is described as 1%AEP.
Aquifer	A subsurface layer or layers of rock or other geological strata of sufficient porosity and permeability to allow either a significant flow of groundwater or the abstraction of significant quantities of groundwater.
Arboriculturist	Person who has, through relevant education, training and experience, gained expertise in the field of trees in relation to construction (BS5837:2012 Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction - Recommendations).
Aspect	This refers to an environmental topic (e.g. air quality, biodiversity, noise etc.).
Assessment of Effects	The assessment of changes arising from the development that is being assessed.
A-weighting	In addition to its non-linear amplitude response, the human ear has a non-linear frequency response; it is less sensitive at low and high frequencies and most sensitive in the mid-range frequencies.
Backfilling (Material assets and waste)	Backfilling means a recovery operation where waste is used in excavated areas for the purpose of slope reclamation or safety or for engineering purposes in landscaping and where the waste is substituting other non-waste materials which would have had to be used for the purpose.
Barn owl roost	A barn owl’s home.
Base year traffic data	The outputs of the traffic model coinciding with the year the traffic data was collected.
Baseline	In EIA, ‘baseline conditions’ are the environmental conditions in existence before the occurrence of an impact from a development i.e. they are the existing conditions that would be affected.
Baseline (Landscape and visual)	Work to provide an outline, understanding of landscape and visual conditions before or without implementation of the project requiring a mix of desk study consultation and field work. DMRB LA 107
Basic noise level (BNL) calculations	BNL calculations are undertaken by using traffic flow, speed and HGV percentage to calculate a reference noise emission from the road link, as set out in CRTN.
Bat roost	A bat’s home.
Bed substrate	The material that rests at the bottom of a stream and along the channel margins.
Best overall environmental outcome	A departure from the waste hierarchy which delivers better overall environmental outcomes.
Bill of quantities	A document containing details on the volumes of excavated arisings from, and materials required for, a development. Also ‘Schedule of Rates’.
Borrow pit	A temporary mineral working to supply material for a specific construction project.
British Geological Society (BGS)	Location of British data on geology
Carbon budgets	UK GHG targets over defined periods of time.
Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e)	Carbon dioxide equivalent (abbreviated as CO₂e) is a metric used to compare the emissions of various greenhouse gases, based on their global-warming potential (GWP), by converting amounts of other gases to the equivalent amount of CO₂ with the same GWP. For example, the GWP for methane (CH₄) is 25 and for nitrous oxide (N₂O) is 298. This means that an emission of 1 tonne of CH4 is equivalent to an emission of 25 tonnes of CO₂ and an emission of 1 tonne of N₂O is equivalent to 298 tonnes of CO₂.
Carbon emissions	Shorthand for emissions of any of the seven GHGs covered by the Kyoto protocol that contribute to climate change.
Characteristics (Landscape and visual)	Elements or combination of elements, which make a particular contribution to distinctive character. DMRB LA 107
Circular economy	A circular economy is an alternative to a traditional linear economy (of make, use, dispose) in which we keep resources in use for as long as possible; extract the maximum value from resources while in use; recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of life; and keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times.
Climate	Long-term weather conditions prevailing over a region.
Climate extreme indices	With regard to climate change, extreme weather events and climate events are often referred to collectively as climate extremes. The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) expert team on climate change detection and indices (ETCCDI) coordinate, organise and collaborate on climate extremes, indices and climate change detection. This team have defined a set of 27 core indices (the ‘ETCCDI’ indices) which can be derived from land surface observations of daily temperature and precipitation.
Climate scenario	UKCP18 uses emissions scenarios, called Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). RCPs specify the concentrations of greenhouse gases that would result in target amounts of radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere by 2100, relative to pre-industrial levels. Four forcing levels have been set: 2.6, 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5 W/m². These create four RCPs that are used in UKCP18; RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0 and RCP 8.5.
Cold spell duration index	Count of days with at least six consecutive days when daily minimum temperature is below the 10th percentile.
Committed development	A development that has full or outline planning permission, or is allocated in an adopted development plan.
Competent expert for biodiversity/ecology	Individuals who can demonstrate that they have relevant: 1) qualifications; and 2) expertise in biodiversity assessment of infrastructure projects.
Competent expert for traffic	Individuals who can demonstrate that they have relevant: 1) qualifications; and 2) expertise in traffic assessment of infrastructure projects.
Conceptual Model (CM)	A conceptual model is a representation of a system that uses concepts and ideas to form said representation. here it provides conceptual information on contamination within the area of the site
Conservation area	An area designated under section 69 of the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as being an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.
Construction materials	Primary, recycled / secondary and renewable sources of materials required for constructing a project.
Construction, demolition and excavation waste	Arisings and waste from the demolition of buildings and structures, site preparation and clearance, remediation, excavation and construction activities.
Cumulative effects	Effects upon the environment that result from the incremental impact of an action when added to other past, present or reasonably foreseeable actions. Each impact by itself may not be significant but can become a significant effect when combined with other impacts.
Decibel	The unit of measurement used for sound pressure levels and noise levels quoted in decibels (dB). The decibel scale is logarithmic rather than linear; the threshold of hearing is zero decibels while, at the other extreme, the threshold of pain is about 130 decibels. These limits are seldom experienced and typical levels lie within the range of 30 dB(A) (a quiet night time level in a bedroom) to 90 dB(A) (at the kerbside of a busy road).
Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)	Provides standards, advice notes and other documents relating to the design, assessment and operation of trunk roads, including motorways in the United Kingdom.
Designated habitats	Internationally, nationally and locally designated sites of ecological conservation importance on protected species and on habitats and other species identified as being of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity.
Detailed assessment	Use of a detailed dispersion model to determine if a particular emission source is likely to create an exceedance of a given air quality objective.
Development Consent Order (DCO)	Introduced by the Planning Act in 2008, a DCO is the means of obtaining permission for developments categorised as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP).
Discharge	The volume of flow passing a point in a given time period.
Dispersion modelling	The mathematical computation of the dispersal of emissions as they travel through the atmosphere.
Disposal	Any operation which is not recovery, even where the operation has as a secondary consequence the reclamation of substances or energy.
Do-Minimum (DM)	The scenario that represents the situation that would occur without the Proposed Scheme in operation, which includes permitted developments.
Do-Something (DS)	The scenario that represents the situation that would occur with the Proposed Scheme in operation, which includes permitted developments.
Drainage network	The streams, rivers, lakes and other water bodies that form a particular drainage basin. NB: This would not include the surface water drainage network that drains water from the carriageway
Dust	Solid particles that are suspended in air or have settled out onto a surface after having been suspended in air. The terms dust and particulate matter (PM) are often used interchangeably, although in some contexts one term tends to be used in preference to the other. In this assessment the term ‘dust’ has been used to include the particles that give rise to soiling, and to human health and ecological effects.
Effect	Term used to express the consequence of an impact. The significance of effect is determined by correlating the magnitude of the impact with the importance, or sensitivity, of the receptor or resource in accordance with defined significance criteria.
Embedded Mitigation	Mitigation measures which are embedded into the project design and have been developed through an iterative design process
Embodied / embedded carbon	Carbon (GHG) emissions associated with energy consumption and chemical processes during the extraction, transport (to point of installation) and / or manufacture of construction materials or products.
Enabling works	Site preparation works that might take place prior to the main construction contract works.
End of first life	The point at which an asset is no longer useful in the capacity for which it was originally intended.
Enhancement	A beneficial measure that is over and above what is required to mitigate the adverse effects of a project.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)	Environmental Impact Assessment. A process by which information about environmental effects of a proposed development is collected, assessed and used to inform decision making. For certain projects, EIA is a statutory requirement.
Environmental Management Plan (EMP)	Plan of environment mitigation for contractors.
Environmental Statement (ES)	A document produced in accordance with the EIA Directive as transported into UK law by the EIA Regulations to report the results of an EIA.
Examining Authority	The person(s) appointed by the Secretary of State (SoS) to assess the Development Consent Order application and make a recommendation to the SoS.
Exceedance	Where ambient concentrations for a given pollutant and averaging period are above the corresponding air quality objective at a location representative of public exposure.
Exception Test	The Exception Test is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). If the Sequential Test identifies that a proposed development is not ‘appropriate’ the Exception Test is used to demonstrate and ensure that flood risk to people and property will be managed satisfactorily, while allowing necessary development to go ahead in situations where suitable sites at lower risk of flooding are not available.
Features (landscape)	Particularly prominent, "eye-catching" elements or characteristic components (i.e. tree clumps, church towers, or wooded skylines).
First study area (material assets and waste)	Project footprint (including temporary land take) for which consent is being sought. The area within which construction materials will be consumed (used / deployed), and waste generated (including temporary compounds and storage areas etc.).
Flood risk	The exposure, vulnerability and hazard associated with flooding.
Flood zone	Flood zones refer to the probability of river and sea flooding, ignoring the presence of defences. Flood zone 3 shows the area that could be affected by a 1 in 100 year (1% chance) flood event. Flood zone 2 shows the area that could be affected by a major flood (1 in 1000, or 0.1% chance). Flood zone 1 shows areas that are very unlikely to experience flood (<0.1%).
Floodplain	A floodplain is flat, or nearly flat, land adjacent to a stream or river, stretching from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and (under natural conditions) experiences periods of flooding.
Fluvial hydromorphology	The scientific study of the form and function of rivers and the interaction between streams and the landscape around them.
Future Year	The year 15 years after the first full calendar year of opening, also known as the ‘design year’.
Geology	The physical structure, substance and history of the earth (rocks and minerals).
Greenhouse gases (GHG)	A gaseous compound that absorbs infrared radiation and traps heat in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are usually expressed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e).
Groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystem (GWDTEs)	Wetlands which critically depend on groundwater flows and/or chemistry.
HAGDMS	Highways Agency Geotechnical Data Management System (HAGDMS)
Haul roads	Temporary routes set up within the Order Limits which will be used during installation by construction vehicles.
Hazardous waste	Defined in line with Article 3(2) of the Waste Framework Directive (Council Directive 2008/98/EC) as: ‘waste which displays one or more of the hazardous properties listed in Annex III’ of the Directive.
Health inequalities	The unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population, and between different groups within society.
Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs)	Rigid and articulated Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and buses/coaches.
Heritage assets	The historic environment assets such as archaeological remains, historic buildings and historic landscapes which have archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic value.
Highways England	Highways England is the public body that operates, maintains and improves England’s motorways and major A roads.
Holt	An otter’s home.
Impact	Action being taken. GLVIA 3. For consistency within LVIA "impact" cannot be used interchangeably with "effect" nor to mean a combination of several effects. DMRB LA 107
Incidental extraction	Incidental extraction: Where any minerals that are incidentally extracted during site preparation would be processed and used on site (e.g. from excavating the road box, foundations, drainage works etc). This is typically the minimum level of prior extraction that the MPA would seek as part of any non-minerals development in an MSA.
In-combination effects	When a projected future climate impact (e.g. increase in temperatures) interacts with an effect identified by another topic and exacerbates its impact.
Inert waste	Waste which meets one or more of the following criteria: 1) that does not undergo any signiﬁcant physical, chemical or biological transformations; 2) that does not dissolve, burn or otherwise physically or chemically react, biodegrade or adversely affect other matter with which it comes into contact in a way likely to give rise to environmental pollution or harm to human health; and 3) where its total leachability and pollutant content and the ecotoxicity of its leachate are insigniﬁcant and, in particular, do not endanger the quality of any surface water or groundwater. See Directive 1999/31/EC and Council Decision 2003/33/EC.
Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)	A professional body for environmental managers and EIA professionals.
Inter-project cumulative effects	The combined action of a number of different projects, in combination with the project being assessed, on a single resource/receptor.
Intra-project effects (interrelationship of effects)	The combined action of a number of different environmental topic specific effects upon a single resource/receptor.
Key construction material	Construction materials which, by weight, constitute the majority of material required to deliver the scheme.
LA₁₀	The A-weighted sound level, in dB, that is exceeded 10% of the time.
L_A10,18hr	The A-weighted sound level, in dB, that is exceeded 10% of the time between 06:00 and 24:00.
L_Aeq	The equivalent continuous sound level (L_Aeq) is the level of a notional steady sound, which at a given position and over a defined period of time, would have the same A-weighted acoustic energy as the fluctuating noise.
Land bank	The stock land with planning permissions but where minerals development has yet to take place.
Landfill capacity	The known, forecast or estimated remaining landfill void space, either regionally or nationally. Landfill capacity is generally measured in cubic metres.
Landscape	An area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors. European Landscape Convention (ELC) 2000. About the relationship between people and place. Inclusive, covering natural, rural, urban, and peri-urban areas and applies not only to special or designated landscapes or countryside but to everyday or degraded landscapes. - resource that results from the way that different components of our environment - natural and cultural - interact together and are perceived. (GLVIA3).
Landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA)	A "... tool used to identify and assess the significance of and the effects of change resulting from... a project on both the landscape as a resource and on people's views and visual amenity (GLVIA3)
Landscape architect	Competent expert to mean: 1) Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI) or; 2) member of a recognised equivalent landscape professional body.
Landscape character	A distinct, recognisable and consistent pattern of elements in the landscape that makes one landscape different from another, rather than better or worse. (GLVIA3)
Landscape character area (LCA)	Single unique areas which are the discrete geographical areas of particular landscape type. (GLVIA3)
Landscape character assessment	Process of identifying and describing variation in character of the landscape - the unique combination of elements and features that make landscapes distinctive - to assist in managing change in the landscape. (GLVIA3)
Landscape character type	Distinct types of relatively homogeneous landscape, generic in nature but share broadly similar combinations of geology, topography, drainage patterns, vegetation and historical land use and settlement pattern, and perceptual and aesthetics attributes. (GLVIA3)
Landscape component	Interplay of physical, natural and cultural factors of our surroundings.
Landscape elements	Individual parts of the landscape include physical influences (geology, soils, landform, drainage, and water bodies); land cover (different types of vegetation, patterns, and types of tree cover); and human influences (land use and management, character of settlements of buildings, and pattern and type of fields and enclosure). (GLVIA3)
Landscape quality (or condition)	Measure of the physical state of the landscape based on judgements, which can include typical character represented in individual areas, integrity of the landscape, and condition of individual elements. (GLVIA3)
Landscape receptor	Defined aspect of the landscape resource that potentially could be affected by the project.
Landscape resource	Natural and physical attribute (i.e. soils vegetation).
Landscape sensitivity	Applied to specific landscape receptors, combining judgements of the susceptibility of the receptor to the specific type of change proposed and the value related to the receptor. (GLVIA3)
Life cycle stage	PAS 2080:2016 proposes a modular approach for the quantification of infrastructure related GHG emissions over a number of stages over the ‘life cycle’ of a project, namely ‘before use (A)’, ‘use (B)’ and ‘end of life (C)’. These stages are further disaggregated into modules (e.g. Product Stage (A1-A3) and construction process stage (A4-A5)).
Limit Value	Legally binding parameters that must not be exceeded. Limit values are set for individual pollutants and are made up of a concentration value, an averaging time over which it is to be measured, the number of exceedances allowed per year, if any, and a date by which it must be achieved.
Listed building	A building or structure designated under section 69 of the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as being of special architectural or historic interest.
L_night	The equivalent continuous sound level L_Aeq,8hr for the period 23:00 to 07:00 hours. This is derived from the L_A10,18hr using the TRL conversion method TRL PR/SE/451/02.
Local air quality	Assessment of the impact of pollutant concentrations on sensitive receptors within 200 m of a road.
Local Air Quality Management (LAQM)	Through the Local Air Quality Management system local authorities are required to assess air quality in their jurisdiction and to designate Air Quality Management Areas if improvements are necessary.
Local Nature Reserve (LNR)	Sites that are designated by the local authority under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 for nature conservation which have wildlife or geological features that are of special interest locally.
Long Term Trend (LTT)	The application of adjustment factors which take into consideration the assumed rate of reduction in roadside NO₂ resulting from the use of Defra's modelling tools, compared to monitored trends at the roadside i.e. the gap between predicted reductions and those which have been observed.
Longest dry spell	Highest number of consecutive days with < 1 mm rainfall.
Long-term (in relation to noise assessment)	Noise change based on the +15-year assessment (for example Do-minimum opening year scenario (DMOY) against Do-minimum future year scenario (DMFY) and DMOY against Do-something future year scenario (DSFY)).
Magnitude of effect	Combines judgements about size and scale of effect, extent of area it occurs over, whether reversible or irreversible and whether short or long term in duration.
Main river	A watercourse shown as such on the Main River Map, and for which the Environment Agency has responsibilities and powers. Main river designation is not an indication of size, although it is often the case that they are larger than ordinary watercourses.
Material impact	An event/outcome that is a key decision-making consideration.
Matter	This relates to sub-topics of an environmental aspect (e.g. designated sites, protected species, etc.).
Maximum 5-day precipitation	Highest value of rainfall accumulated over five days.
Meandering channel	A single channel that follows a winding course, with a sinuosity ratio typically over 1.5.
Mineral area of search	A broad area within which mineral sites are sought for development.
Mineral Planning Authority	The mineral planning authority is the county council (in 2-tier parts of the country), the unitary authority, or the national park authority responsible for planning control of minerals development.
Mineral resource	Natural concentrations of minerals in or on the Earth’s crust that are or may become of economic interest because they are present in such form, quality and quantity that there is the potential for eventual economic extraction. Generally, a mineral resource is known to exist within the boundaries outlined by BGS geological mapping.
Mineral safeguarding area	An area designated by a Mineral Planning Authority which covers known deposits of minerals which are desired to be kept safeguarded from unnecessary sterilisation by non-mineral development.
Mineral safeguarding sites	Operational extraction sites or mineral sites specifically identified / allocated in strategic planning documents as those that will be mined or extracted.
Mitigation	The action of reducing the severity and magnitude of change (impact) to the environment. Measures to avoid, reduce, remedy or compensate for significant adverse effects.
Model verification	A comparison of the modelled results versus monitoring results at relevant locations to enable the adjustment of model outputs, minimising the inherent uncertainties associated with dispersion modelling.
Morphological features	Natural, physical shape of land or watercourse, e.g. of a riverbed or banks.
National Character Assessment (NCA)	Natural England has divided England into 159 distinct natural areas. Each is defined by a unique combination of landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity, history, and cultural and economic activity. Their boundaries follow natural lines in the landscape rather than administrative boundaries.
National Network National Policy Statement (NNNPS)	The NPS for National Networks (NNNPS) sets out ‘the need for, and the Government’s policies to deliver development of nationally significant infrastructure projects on the national road and rail networks’.
National Policy Statement (NPS)	National Policy Statements (NPS) are produced by Government. They give reasons for the policy set out in the statement and must include an explanation of how the policy takes account of Government policy relating to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.
Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP)	Major infrastructure developments in England and Wales, such as proposals for power plants, large renewable energy projects, new airports and airport extensions, and major road projects, as set out in the Planning Act (2008). See entry for Development Consent Order.
Natural England	A public body responsible for ensuring that England’s natural environment is protected and improved.
Natural resources	Any physical, tangible and valued element of the natural environment (e.g. soil, land, water and biodiversity).
Net zero	Net zero means any emissions would be balanced by schemes to offset an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, such as planting trees or using technology like carbon capture and storage.
Nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZ)	A designation required under the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) for all land draining to and contributing to the nitrate pollution in ‘polluted’ waters. Polluted waters are those where nitrate levels exceed, or are likely to exceed, the levels set in the Directive.
Noise modelling	Software to predict noise levels. NOTE: This can be undertaken either by specialist software to provide a 3D representation of the project and nearby noise sensitive receptors or a simple spreadsheet.
Noise monitoring	Measurement of noise levels.
Noise sensitive receptor	Receptors which are potentially sensitive to noise. NOTE: Examples include dwellings, hospitals, healthcare facilities, education facilities, community facilities, END quiet areas or potential END quiet areas, international and national or statutorily designated sites, public rights of way and cultural heritage assets.
NOMIS	NOMIS is a service provided by the Office for National Statistics, ONS, providing free access to detailed and up-to-date UK labour market statistics from official sources.
Non-hazardous waste	Waste that is neither classified as inert nor hazardous.
Opening year	The first full calendar year of operation.
Ordinary watercourse	All watercourses that are not designated as a main river, and which are the responsibility of LLFA or, where they exist, IDB. Note that ordinary watercourse does not imply a ‘small’ river, although it is often the case that ordinary watercourses are smaller than main rivers.
Particulate Matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5)	Airborne particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10µm or less (PM₁₀) or 2.5 µm or less (PM_2.5).
PAS 2080	PAS 2080:2016 ‘Carbon Management in Infrastructure’ specifies requirements for the management of whole life carbon in infrastructure.
Peat resource	Existing or potential peat extraction sites.
Pennine Lower Coal Measures (PLCM)	Term to describe local geology.
Pennine Middle Coal Measures (PMCM)	Term to describe local geology.
Phase 1 habitat survey	A rapid system for the recording of semi-natural vegetation and other wildlife habitats first published by the Joint Nature Conservancy Council in 1990.
Photomontage	Visualisation which superimposes an image of a proposed development upon a photograph.
Planning Inspectorate (PINS)	The Planning Inspectorate for England and Wales is an executive agency of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government with responsibility to make decisions and provide recommendations and advice on a range of land use planning-related issues including operating the planning process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
Pollutant concentrations	Concentrations of pollutants normally reported as micrograms per cubic metre of air (µg/m3).
Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model	Government's national air quality modelling used to assess and report on compliance with the Ambient Air Quality Directive to the European Commission.
Pools and riffles	Periodic undulations in bed elevation where relatively shallow, coarse grained riffles are separated by deeper pools.
Preliminary sources study report	A combination of desk study and site reconnaissance, the purpose of which is to develop an initial conceptual site model.
Preparing for reuse	Checking, cleaning or repairing operations, by which products or components of products that have become waste are prepared so that they can be re-used without any other pre-processing.
Prevention (Material assets and waste)	Measures taken before a substance, material or product has become waste, that reduce: 1) the quantity of waste, including through the re-use of products or the extension of the life span of products; 2) the adverse impacts of the generated waste on the environment and human health; or 3) the content of harmful substances in materials and products.
Primary materials	Physical substances from non-renewables sources, i.e. those that cannot or will not be replaced in short (non-geological) periods of time. Also referred to as 'virgin' materials.
Principal aquifer	Geology that exhibits high permeability and/or provides a high level of water storage. They may support water supply and/or river baseflow on a strategic scale.
Project Air Quality Action Plan (PAQAP)	A detailed description of measures, outcomes, achievement dates and implementation methods, showing how the AQOs will be achieved.
Protected species mitigation licence	The licence issued to permit an activity affecting protected species that would otherwise be an offence.
Proximity principle	The requirement to treat and/or dispose of wastes in reasonable proximity to their point of generation.
Public right of way (PRoW)	A widely known right to cross private land is known as a 'right of way'. If this is a right granted to everyone it is a 'public right of way'.
Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA)	is the ash resulting from the burning of pulverised coal in coal-fired electricity power stations
Rainfall from extremely wet days	Total rainfall falling on days with daily rainfall total in excess of the 99th percentile of daily rainfall.
Ramsar site	Wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention 1971.
RCP 8.5	RCP 8.5 refers to the concentration of carbon that delivers global warming at an average of 8.5 watts per square meter across the planet. The RCP 8.5 pathway delivers a temperature increase of about 4.3˚C by 2100, relative to pre-industrial temperatures and is based on a high GHG emissions scenario.
Realignment (water environment)	The artificial straightening of a river channel to accommodate structures, flood control, or navigation.
Receptor	A defined individual environmental feature usually associated with population, fauna and flora that have potential to be impacted by a development.
Recovery (material assets and waste)	Any operation, the principal result of which is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials which would otherwise have been used to fulfil a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfil that function, in the plant or in the wider economy.
Recycled aggregates	Aggregates that are typically derived from reprocessing materials previously used in construction, such as road planings, railway ballast, crushed concrete or masonry from construction and demolition activities.
Recycling	Any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes. Recycling 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 back filling operations.
Region	The defined geographical areas or physical extents of the second study area. For the purposes of this aspect, the recommended physical extent is the former North West England Planning Region.
Region (material assets and waste)	The defined geographical areas or physical extents of the second study area. For the purposes of this aspect, the recommended physical extent is the former East of England Planning Region.
Registered park and garden	Gardens, grounds and other planned open spaces with historical significance. Registration is a 'material consideration' in the planning process.
Representative viewpoints	Locations that represent individuals and / or defined groups of people who have the potential to be affected by a proposed development.
Residual effect	The predicted consequential change on the environment from the impacts of a development after mitigation.
Re-use	Any operation by which products or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were conceived.
Runoff	The movement of water above and below the surface.
Scheduled monument	Scheduled monuments are protected by law designated under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and are, by definition, of national importance.
Scoping	The process of identifying the issues to be addressed by an environmental impact assessment process. It is a method of ensuring that an assessment focuses on the important issues and avoids those that are considered unlikely to be significant.
Second study area (material assets and waste)	1) Feasible sources and availability of construction materials required to construct the main elements of a project. 2) Suitable recovery and waste management infrastructure that could accept arisings and/or waste generated by a project.
Secondary A aquifer	Permeable strata capable of supporting water supplies at a local rather than strategic scale and in some cases forming an important source of baseflow to rivers.
Secondary B aquifer	Predominantly lower permeability strata which may in part have the ability to store and yield limited amounts of groundwater by virtue of localised features such as fissures, thin permeable horizons and weathering.
Secondary materials / aggregates	Useful by-products from manufacturing or industrial processes. Secondary aggregates are typically by-products of industrial and other processes. These can be subdivided into manufactured and natural aggregates, depending on their source and can include materials such as pulverised fuel ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, furnace bottom ash, incinerator bottom ash, recycled glass etc. Both secondary and recycled aggregates offer appropriate engineering specifications to allow them to replace primary aggregates.
Secondary Undifferentiated aquifer	Designation used in cases where it has not been possible to attribute either category A or B to a rock type.
Sensitive receptor	Includes residential properties, back gardens, schools, hospitals, care homes, public open spaces, public access.
Sensitivity	Receptor or resource environmental value.
Sequential Test	The Sequential Test is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The Sequential Test ensures that a sequential approach is followed to steer new development to areas with the lowest probability of flooding. Following application of the Sequential Test, Planning Practice Guidance identifies the circumstances when the Exception Test should be applied.
Sett	A badger’s home.
Setting (cultural heritage)	The setting of an asset is the surroundings in which a place is experienced, while embracing an understanding of perceptible evidence of the past in the present landscape.
Short-term (in relation to noise assessment)	Noise change based on parallel assessment year (for example do-minimum opening year scenario (DMOY) against do-something opening year scenario (DSOY)).
Significance	A measure of the importance, or gravity, of the environmental effect, defined by significance criteria specific to the environmental aspect.
Site arisings	Construction, demolition, excavation and other arisings generated from within a project boundary, during both construction, and operation and maintenance phases.
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)	Site designated as being of special interest for its flora, fauna or geological or physiographical features and protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Soil	An assemblage of mineral particles and/or organic matter which includes variable amounts of water and air (and sometimes other gases).
Source Protection Zone (SPZ)	Zones around groundwater sources used for potable supply or food processing, including wells, boreholes and springs, which show the level of risk to the source from contamination.
Special Area of Conservation (SAC)	An area which has been identified as being important for a range of vulnerable habitats, plant and animal species within the EU and is designated under the Habitats Directive.
Special Protection Area (SPA)	A site designated under the Birds Directive due to its international importance for the breeding, feeding, wintering, or the migration of, rare and vulnerable species of birds.
Speed band	A range of categories for which outputs from the traffic model are grouped into to describe their emissions.
Spraint	An otter’s dung.
Stable non-reactive hazardous waste	Hazardous waste, the leaching behaviour of which will not change adversely in the long-term, under landfill design conditions or foreseeable accidents: in the waste alone (for example, by biodegradation); under the impact of long-term ambient conditions (for example, water, air, temperature or mechanical constraints); by the impact of other wastes (including waste products such as leachate and gas).
Standardised admissions ratio (SAR)	The SAR is a health measure that allows a comparison of hospital admissions data between areas, whilst accounting for differences in population structures (i.e. age profile) between those areas. It is calculated by using admissions data from a standard population to estimate the number of admissions expected in the study population. The estimate is then compared with the actual (observed) number of admissions and multiplied by 100 to yield the SAR. If the observed admissions are the same as the expected admissions the SAR will be 100. An SAR greater than 100 indicates that admissions are higher than would be expected for the age structure in the study population. An SAR less than 100 indicates it is lower than expected.
Standardised mortality ratio (SMR)	The SMR is a health measure that allows a comparison of mortality data between areas, whilst accounting for differences in population structures (i.e. age profile) between those areas. It is calculated from mortality data using the same approach as for the SAR.
Sterilise	Substantially constrain / prevent existing and potential future use and extraction of mineral resources, typically by constructing infrastructure over or adjacent to a deposit.
Strava Global Heatmap	A web-based source of information activities undertaken by users of the Strava fitness app (www.strava.com). The heatmap shows 'heat' made by aggregated, public activities over the last two years. The heatmap is updated monthly.
Sub-region (in relation to material assets and waste)	The defined geographical areas or physical extents of Greater Manchester sub-region (Association of Greater Manchester Authorities).
Susceptibility	The ability of a defined landscape or visual receptor to accommodate the specified proposed development without undue negative consequences. GLVIA3
Synergistic	Where different types of impact affect a receptor and interact to increase their combined significance e.g. two discharges combine to have an effect on a species not affected by discharges in isolation.
Townscape	The landscape within the built-up area, including the buildings, urban open spaces, including green spaces and the relationship between buildings and between buildings and open spaces. GLVIA3
Traffic reliability area (TRA)	Defined in DMRB LA 105 Air Quality (Highways England, 2019) as the ‘area covered by the traffic model, that the competent expert for traffic has identified as reliable for inclusion in an environmental assessment’.
Tranquil areas	Places which are sufficiently away from visual or noise intrusion of development or traffic to be considered unspoilt by urban influences.
UKCP18	The UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18) are a set of UK climate projection tools designed to help decision-makers assess their risk exposure to climate. The UKCP18 project uses cutting-edge climate science to provide climate change projections out to 2100. UKCP18 provides probabilistic projections over land and a set of high-resolution spatially-coherent future climate projections for the UK at 12km scale. The 12km climate model has been further downscaled to 2.2km scale - a level previously only used for short-term weather forecasts, allowing realistic simulation of high impact events such as localised heavy rainfall in summer.
Unproductive strata	These are geological strata with low permeability that have negligible significance for water supply or river base flow.
Value	Relative value or importance of a landscape's quality, special qualities including perceptual aspects such as scenic beauty, tranquility, or wildness, cultural associations or other conservation issues. GLVIA3
Visual amenity	Overall enjoyment of a particular area, surroundings, or views in terms of people's activities - living, recreating, travelling through, visiting, or working. GLVIA3
Visual effects	Effects on specific views and on the general visual amenity experienced by people.
Visual receptor	Individuals and/or defined groups of people who potentially could be affected by a project. GLVIA3
Visual sensitivity	Visual experience, be it sensitivity to light or visual clutter. DMRB LA 107
Vulnerability (climate change)	The degree to which a system/asset is exposed and resilient to adverse effects of climate change.
Walkers, cyclists and horse riders (WCH)	A term to describe users of the highway who do not travel by motorised vehicles e.g. pedestrians, cyclists or horse riders.
Warm spell duration index	Count of days with at least six consecutive days when daily maximum temperature is above the 90th percentile.
Waste	Defined in line with Article 3(1) of the Waste Framework Directive (Council Directive 2008/98/EC) as: ‘any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard’. Waste is commonly split into the following classifications: Inert, Hazardous and Non-hazardous: waste that is classified neither as inert nor hazardous.
Waste classification	As part of waste Duty of Care, waste holders must classify their waste: before it is collected, disposed of or recovered; to identify the controls that apply to the movement of the waste; to complete waste documents and records; to identify suitably authorised waste management options; and to prevent harm to people and the environment. Technical Guidance WM3 ‘Waste Classification - Guidance on the classification and assessment of waste’ provides guidance on waste classification in the UK. It is a comprehensive reference manual for anyone involved in producing, managing and regulating waste. Appendix A of WM3 includes the waste classification codes, also referred to as LoW (List of Waste) or EWC (European Waste Catalogue) codes.
Waste infrastructure	Facilities that handle, treat/prepare for reuse, recycle and dispose (landfill) of waste.
Water Environment Regulations (WER)	The Water Environment Regulations (previously known as Water Framework Directive) (Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy) is an EU directive which commits EU member states to achieve good qualitative and quantitative status of all water bodies (including marine waters up to one nautical mile from shore).
Wider determinant of health	Personal, social, economic and environmental factors which determine the health status of individuals and communities.
Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV)	Visibility modelling undertaken to determine the theoretical extent of visibility of a proposed scheme. The modelling will be undertaken for two situations. As ‘bare earth’ terrain data modelling without considering the influence of vegetation and buildings, and separately modelled taking into account screening features such as buildings and large woodland blocks, in line with guidance in LA 107.