The Rapid Policy Insight team in MHCLG is embedding user-centred design into policy by working closely with policy teams over focused 7-week sprints. Read about the value of this approach, and how it helps shape more effective, user-focused policy.
Our work continues to standardise the planning application process to build a more data-rich planning system. After inviting everyone to review the baseline specifications for submitting an application, we’re now focused on preparing them to become mandated national standards, through rigorous testing and active collaboration. Working in the open remains our priority and we’re particularly keen to gather everyone’s input over the next 3 months to directly shape our ongoing work and priorities.
Performance dashboards are a key tool to support leaders when assessing departmental performance. Read about the work the Common Tools as a Service team in MHCLG has been doing to make performance reports more fit for purpose, including the research they've done with their users, and the benefits of their approach.
The PropTech Innovation Challenge has revealed the potential for technology to revolutionise planning and housing delivery. Attracting 84 applications, with 225 partners, it demonstrates industry-wide commitment to finding innovative solutions which can help us meet our ambitious target of 1.5 million new homes.
Developers across government often face the challenge of building hundreds of data-rich web pages that are both accessible and easy to understand. Without a standardised solution, this can lead to duplicated effort and inconsistent results. A team in MHCLG is tackling this by developing a flexible toolkit that combines GOV.UK design standards with powerful data visualisation tools, helping teams build engaging digital products faster and more consistently.
This week, the Prime Minister officially launched Extract, the AI tool which the Digital Planning programme in MHCLG and the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence are developing to transform decades of planning information trapped in paper maps and PDFs into usable digital data.
This technology will significantly reduce the time required to digitise documents from hours to minutes, freeing planning officers up to focus on applications rather than data management.
The cyber threat to local government is real, increasing, and constantly evolving. Four years into the Cyber Support programme, we’re sharing insights on the impact of our cyber work.
The Deputy Prime Minister has unveiled a package of measures to empower SME housebuilders to build out smaller sites faster. The Digital Planning programme’s £1.2 million PropTech Innovation Challenge is one of the initiatives included – designed to accelerate housing delivery across England by inviting tech innovators to partner with local authorities and developers to create cutting-edge solutions for small site development.
Innovation was sparked at the Local Government Innovation Hackathon, where 150 planners, technologists and digital leaders collaborated to solve real planning challenges. MHCLG proudly co-organised the event with Government Digital Service, Incubator for AI and Open Digital Planning, reimagining planning services through this hands-on approach.
The first-ever end-to-end digital planning product pilots have been launched across four local planning authorities. The pilots integrate the new products into a unified system to streamline the planning process. Early results are promising and demonstrate how digital innovation is creating a more efficient, transparent planning system for both local authorities and applicants.
