Macrogeneration is the delivery of low carbon technologies and renewable energy technologies to the scale by which they can provide a significant proportion of energy required. This would require gigawatts of energy output rather than megawatts.

Realigns the allocation of mainstream resources, such as the police and health services, to target the most deprived areas and sustain regeneration activity piloted through short-term funding.

Annual Government grant given each year to support council housing capital investment.Further information» Department for Communities and Local Government 

Situation where barriers prevent the normal and efficient operation of a local economy. These may be information barriers, where local people don’t know about job vacancies nearby, or the negative impact that high crime levels have on firms and workers locating to a particular area.

Small town, generally with a population of up to 10,000 people, which supports an economy and community containing both the settlement and a defined hinterland. The Rural White Paper 2000 highlighted the important role of market towns for economic development in rural areas and led to the development of the Market Towns Initiative.

High-level document that sets out the major developments planned for a given area, such as a town centre. Individual projects then fit into the masterplan.

Requirement to find a percentage of the total cost of the project to ensure that there is at least one other source of funding.

Material flow accounts record the total mass of natural resources and products that are used by the economy, either directly in the production and distribution of products and services, or indirectly through the movement of materials which are displaced in order for production to take place.A material flow account balances the inputs (extraction of natural resources from the UK environment, and imports of goods) with the outputs (wastes, emissions to air and water, exports) and accumulation (in terms of new buildings etc) within the economy.Further information » www.materialflows.net

The Merton Rule requires the use of renewable energy onsite to reduce annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the built environment. It was pioneered by the London Borough of Merton.On the 8 June 2006 the Merton Rule was supported by Yvette Cooper, the Minister for Housing and Planning. She announced that "Government expects all planning authorities to include policies in their development plans that require a percentage of the energy in new developments to come from onsite renewables".

Small-scale renewable energy technologies, which can often be used by individuals and communities. These can include:

• Photovoltaics
• Solar water heating
• Wind turbines
• Biomass

Microgeneration is defined in section 82 of the Energy Act 2004 as the small-scale production of heat and/or electricity from a low carbon source.The various technologies have the potential to help us achieve our objectives of tackling climate change, ensuring reliable energy and tackling fuel poverty.Further information » Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Key events with dates marking stages in the progress of a project or programme.

Mitigation of climate change involves taking actions aimed at reducing the extent of global warming and global climate change, recognising that its effects are already being felt.

Neighbourhood with a more sustainable mix of tenures and incomes, leading to a diverse range of residents.Further information » Joseph Rowntree Foundation

This is a development that combines residential or transient accommodation uses with commercial and/or office uses as well as recreational uses and which contains an element of open space in order to ensure a sustainable community.Further informationMixed use development, practice and potential analyses the potential and actual contribution of mixed-use development schemes with a significant housing component to the revitilisation of town centres.»  Department for Communities and Local Government