Open Digital Planning is becoming a powerful force for change in local government. This supportive community, backed by MHCLG’s Digital Planning programme, brings together authorities committed to modernising their planning services and making essential data publicly available.
The network is continuing to grow, with 24 new planning authorities joining this month, through the Digital Planning Improvement Fund.
Each council is receiving £50,000 to transform how it delivers planning services, strengthen its digital capabilities and become part of the collaborative community that’s already making real improvements for residents, developers and stakeholders.
A community-driven approach
Open Digital Planning (ODP) offers much more than funding – it provides a supportive network where authorities support and learn from each other. Members benefit from peer-to-peer learning opportunities, digital and data training and comprehensive guidance through the ODP Hub. Regular in-person events, like the recent lively gathering in Gloucester (see picture above), help build valuable connections across the planning and Geographic Information System (GIS) community.
Getting a baseline
After joining the fund, new authorities begin their digital transformation journey with the Digital Planning Maturity Assessment – a tool that helps teams understand their digital strengths and identify areas to improve.
Castle Point Borough Council found the assessment particularly valuable:
“The Digital Planning Maturity Assessment has been really useful. It helped us map out the data we needed and the required formats, making it easier for our team – including those with less technical experience – to contribute effectively. It's been a real team effort.”
Making planning data available for everyone
Each authority creates a tailored action plan and commits to making 4 crucial planning datasets available on the national Planning Data Platform: conservation areas, listed buildings, Tree Preservation Orders and Article 4 Directions.
This transforms how residents, businesses and other stakeholders access vital planning information, moving from fragmented, hard-to-find data to standardised, searchable and always up-to-date information. When planning data is published in consistent formats, it enables better decision-making, reduces uncertainty and opens doors for innovation in the planning sector.
Learning and growing together
Creating lasting connections and shared learning is a cornerstone of being part of Open Digital Planning. Community managers from the Digital Planning programme organise regular training and monthly show-and-tell sessions, giving authorities space to share successes, tackle challenges together and learn from each other's innovations.
The collaborative approach is transforming how authorities work, as Lee West, from the London Borough of Waltham Forest recently noted:
“The Digital Planning Improvement Fund and joining ODP has helped us to focus our limited resources on updating, standardising and sharing our key planning spatial datasets. The friendly and supportive ODP community has made the whole process an engaging and enjoyable journey, and we're excited about the future improvements coming up to help our residents.”
Join the Digital Planning Improvement Fund
Local planning authorities who haven’t yet joined the fund can apply to join the next cohort. Applications close at midday on 30 October 2025. Check your eligibility and get ready to join our growing community.
The 24 authorities starting their digital journey this month are:
- Blackpool Council
- Braintree District Council
- Brighton and Hove City Council
- Chelmsford Council
- County of Herefordshire District Council
- Dartford Borough Council
- Derby City Council
- Fenland District Council
- Gedling Borough Council
- Harlow Borough Council
- Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough
- Kingston Upon Thames Council
- London Borough of Bexley
- London Borough of Brent
- London Borough of Hackney
- Malvern Hills District Council
- North Devon District Council
- Nottingham City Council
- Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
- Swale Brough Council
- Westmorland and Furness Council
- Wiltshire Council
- Worcester City Council
- Wychavon District Council
Want to know more?
We're heading to DigiGov Expo 2025 on 24 and 25 September at the ExCeL London. Digital Planning will be part of the MHCLG Digital pod in the Government Village along with colleagues from AI, Data and Local Digital teams.
Our Head of Digital Delivery Baljit Rakhra will be joining a panel session on 'Building the Government Digital and Digital Civil Service' in the GovTech theatre on 25 September, while MHCLG's AI Director Tom Smith is speaking about 'Maximising the Benefits of AI in 2025', and Katie Owen, Service Owner in Local Digital, will join a panel discussing 'Local Resilience: Implementing Cyber Assessment Framework' on 24 September.
- Learn more about the Digital Planning Improvement Fund and read case studies from councils about their experience.
- Find out more about Open Digital Planning in our previous blog post, Open Digital Planning: a cross-sector partnership to transform local planning services and the Open Digital Planning website.
- Keep up to date on our Digital Planning programme by visiting our website, following us on LinkedIn and subscribing to our newsletter.
Leave a comment