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Blog MHCLG Digital

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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Digital Planning: Get involved validating the baseline planning application data specifications

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: Data, Digital Planning
An illustrative image showing digital tools

As part of our work to modernise England's planning system we have been collaborating with over 40 organisations to draft new planning application data specifications which will help to revolutionise how planning data is structured and exchanged between local authorities and software providers. Whether you're a planning officer, developer, or technology provider, we’re now seeking wider input to review and refine our baseline specifications to help build a planning system that's truly fit for the 21st century.

Local Digital’s next steps with Tom Smith, Director for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Artificial Intelligence, Data, Local Digital
Tom Smith and team during workshop in Darlington

Tom Smith, Director of the AI and Advanced Analytics Directorate at MHCLG, highlights the push for AI adoption, digital transformation and cyber resilience in councils, and the exciting opportunities to make progress in these areas through the work of Local Digital.

Digital Planning: Learning about resilience, cohesion and trust at the 25th Belgo-British Conference 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning, PropTech
Lou Welham at the 25th annual Belgo-British Conference

Innovative pilots funded by the Digital Planning PropTech (property technology) Innovation Fund have given us key insights about building citizen trust, community cohesion and bridging generational divides. We were able to share these learnings at the recent 25th Belgo-British Conference, and come away with a few more.

Very common tools: what we’ve learnt whilst improving SharePoint

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: Common tools
A graphic with the words: SharePoint, library, website and archive written on it.

The Common Tools as a Service team is responsible for building standardised, reliable and reusable tools and platforms for everyone in MHCLG. They help teams to be more efficient, deliver quickly and reduce operational costs. In this post, they share what they're doing to make SharePoint pages easier to navigate and more accessible. 

Funding Service: How we transformed Delta based on user needs  

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Funding Service
A screenshot of the Delta homepage on GOV.UK.

Delta is the main platform MHCLG uses to collect data and make payments. It helps the department make policy decisions, release national statistics and process payments to local authorities.  Read how the Funding Service transformed Delta based on user needs.

Funding boost to support digital planning innovation

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning, Planning Software
Workshop image

The MHCLG Digital Planning programme is providing further grant funding to local planning authorities (LPAs), for specific digital, data and innovation work, to modernise their planning services.  In this blog post, we set out the allocation of funding for a range of improvements and projects which will transform planning processes and deliver efficiencies.

Open Digital Planning: a cross-sector partnership to transform local planning services

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning, Planning Software, Ways of working
ODP community

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Digital Planning Programme coordinates Open Digital Planning (ODP) – a cross-sector partnership of forward-thinking local planning authorities (LPAs) working together to create a more efficient, data-driven planning system.

Over the last 4 years, we’ve worked closely with council officers to understand their technology and data challenges and have used these insights to drive meaningful change.

International Women’s Day 2025: Meet the women shaping AI, cyber and technology at MHCLG

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Careers, Innovation
an image showing the four authors of the blog post

To mark International Women’s Day 2025 on 8 March, 4 colleagues driving government innovation across AI, cyber and technology share their unique experiences, challenges and perspectives on gender equality, offering inspiration and insight, particularly for women who aspire to build a career in similar fields.

Setting the foundations for faster plan-making 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning, Strategy
Aerial view of green space with businesses and housing

A new home for plan-making resources, called 'Create or update a local plan', has been published on GOV.UK, bringing together all the essential guidance and tools councils need to produce a local plan. Responding to feedback by providing clearer, consistent guidance, including new standards to create policy maps, our aim is to make the process faster and more efficient.

Bringing SaaS tools into a fully supported service: powering innovation as a live services manager 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Careers, Technology
Poonam at her desk working

As a live services manager at MHCLG Digital, Poonam's role revolves around encouraging a more effective use of Software as a Service (SaaS) tools within the department. Find out more about Poonam's role, her team's mission as well as her journey from financial services to public services.

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