Select glossary area from these links

National Cycle Network: A project to provide over 10,000 miles of cycle routes throughout the UK. In June 2000, the first 5,000 miles were opened. The project is managed by SUSTRANS and supported by a £43.5m grant from the Millenium Commission.

National Planning Policy Guidelines: The series of guidelines produced by the Scottish Executive to advise local planning authorities in Scotland on various planning issues of national strategic importance. Although not mandatory, these carry great weight, especially in the determination of major planning applications. These are being systematically replaced by Scottish Planning Policies (SPPs).

Neighbourhood Centre: Small group of shops and related outlets serving a residential neighbourhood, considered too limited to constitute a centre within the definition of National Planning Policy Guideline 8: Town Centres and Retailing (NPPG8).

Net Developable Area: Net developable area is associated with residential development sites. They exclude main roads, buffer zones, structural landscaping, other uses such as local shops, school sites where required, and general open space (including important topographical features to be retained, areas for football, mini-parks, etc). They do not include local access roads, parking areas, footpaths and local open space such as children’s play areas and amenity space.

Net Migration: The difference between the number of people who move out of an area and the number who move into an area over the same time period. Net out-migration is recorded when the number of people who leave out-number those who move in, net in-migration is the reverse.

Net Sales Area: The part of gross retail floorspace used for sales purposes, excluding related functions such as storage or staff facilities.

Net-to-Gross Ratio: The proportion of net sales area to gross retail floorspace; varies between different retailers and different types of outlet, although across-the-board averages are normally used in retail capacity studies.

New Build: New buildings, excluding conversions and alterations and extensions to existing buildings.

New Neighbourhood: A new community within the urban area, comprising around 1,000 houses of different tenures, house types and sizes. A range of amenities, which could include schools, shops, recreational facilities and local employment opportunities, would support the new housing.

Nodes: Nodes are major or visually significant road junctions that are often the focus for community activity and services. For the purpose of the Urban Design Strategy, major nodes have been defined as the City’s historic crosses or tolls as listed below:

Non Mainstream Residential Use: Any use, other than a mainstream dwelling, including multiple occupancies, institutions and offices that is made of a property whose original purpose was as a dwelling unit for families or individuals.

Notification: Scottish Ministers require to be notified of certain categories of planning application that the planning authority is minded to grant, allowing Ministers the opportunity to call the application in for their own determination. The categories relevant to retail development are proposals of over 10,000 m2 gross retail floorspace; proposals liable to draw trade from the area of an adjoining authority, where that authority has objected; proposals in which the planning authority has a financial interest; and proposals involving significant departures from the approved Structure Plan or any local plan approved by Scottish Ministers under Section 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.