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England

Spatial Planning

For residents and practitioners · Updated 20 September 2026 · As at 20 September 2026

SDS glossary

This glossary defines the terms used on this site in the sense the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and the August 2026 NPPF use them. Where a word is still unsettled in practice, the entry says so. Each term links to a longer page where one exists.

Apportionment

The SDS task of sharing objectively assessed housing (and other strategic) need between local planning authorities in the strategy area. See NPPF PM1.

Broad location for growth

A strategic area identified in an SDS for significant new homes, jobs or other development. It is not a site allocation. See SDS vs local plan.

Commencement

The regulations that bring a section of an Act into force. The SDS duty is not live until the relevant provisions are commenced.

Constituent authority

A principal authority that sits on a strategic planning board. It is not itself the strategic planning authority. See inserted section 12A(3).

Cumulative effects

Combined effects of more than one plan or project on the same receptor. No single UK method. See cumulative impact assessment.

Environmental Outcomes Report (EOR)

The proposed replacement for EIA, SEA and SA under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. Emerging. Not the current SDS appraisal system.

Examination

Independent test of an SDS for procedure and soundness. SDS tests are in NPPF PM14: positive, appropriate, effective, consistent with national policy.

General conformity

The requirement that a local plan follow an adopted SDS on strategic matters. A PM15 soundness test. Not defined at the margins. See general conformity.

In-combination

Habitats Regulations term: effects of a plan or project together with other plans or projects.

Local plan

The site-allocating development-plan document for a local planning authority. New-style plans have a 30-month timetable from Gateway 1 (PM2).

Local nature recovery strategy

Environment Act 2021, section 104. An SDS must take account of any LNRS that relates to part of the strategy area (inserted section 12D(11)).

Principal authority

Combined authority, combined county authority, upper-tier county or unitary, as listed in inserted section 12A(2)(b)–(e).

Reasonable alternatives

Options the appraisal must compare. The usual place to test different spatial patterns at SDS scale.

Spatial Development Strategy (SDS)

The strategic-tier plan defined in inserted sections 12A and 12D. See what is an SDS.

Strategic planning authority

The body with the duty to prepare the SDS. See strategic planning authority.

Strategic planning board (SPB)

A joint committee created by regulations to prepare one SDS for two or more principal authorities. See strategic planning board.

Strategy area

The geography of the SDS: the board's combined area, or the area of the combined authority, county or unitary.

Strategy period

How long the SDS has effect. The Act requires a period to be stated. NPPF PM1 says the growth strategy should cover at least 25 years.

Sources

  1. Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, c. 34, section 58 — legislation.gov.uk, 18 December 2025. Inserts new sections 12A to 12W into the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Royal Assent 18 December 2025.
  2. National Planning Policy Framework — Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 17 August 2026. Replaces earlier NPPF versions. Plan-making policies include PM1 (SDS content) and PM14 (SDS examination).
  3. Areas for producing spatial development strategies (consultation paper) — MHCLG, 12 February 2026
  4. Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 — legislation.gov.uk, 30 November 2017

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