Skip to main content

Digital Planning

Breaking down barriers: working together to support local authorities

Mike Rose at the LLC Workshop in Birmingham

Through collaboration between HM Land Registry and Local Planning Authorities, the Digital Planning team is working on a joined-up approach to reduce the burden of providing the data needed for local land charges and planning purposes. Previously submitting similar data to different systems, our new way of working will make the process more efficient.

Digital Planning: scaling the Planning Data service 

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Data, Digital Planning
Planning Data team in a workshop

Go behind the scenes of MHCLG's planning data success as Emma Beer, delivery lead, and Steve Messer, product and design strategist, reveal the strategic approach that has powered the service's exceptional growth last year. They share insights into building a high-performing team and the transformative impact of data sharing across the planning sector.

Digital Planning Directory launches: a milestone moment for the UK’s planning sector  

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning
Dr-Wei-Yang-OBE-CEO-Digital-Task-Forcce-for-Planning

Digital transformation has taken a major step forward with the launch of the Digital Planning Directory - a comprehensive platform bringing together state-of-the-art planning tools and services in one accessible location. The Directory, developed to address the pressing need for digital skills and resources in local planning authorities, will help both public and private sector professionals make informed decisions about digital planning solutions.

Digital Planning Programme: our year in review 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning
Nottingham City Council's 3D map of Nottingham city centre which is delivering tangible planning benefits to the council.

In this blog the Digital Planning team review the programme’s highlights from 2024. From increased data collection to developing new tools, collaboration to innovation, the team has worked alongside Local Planning Authorities, the planning community and other colleagues in government to make planning faster, data-driven, and more citizen-friendly.

Digital Planning: developing planning applications specifications in the open 

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

The first collaborative sessions with the planning community to develop data specifications for planning applications have taken place. Find out about the ambition, the progress being made and how you can get involved.

Digital Planning: applying digital principles and innovation to transform England’s planning system 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning, Strategy
a building site

The Digital Planning programme in MHCLG is transforming the future of planning. Find out how standardised data, innovation, collaboration and enhanced use of digital tools are reshaping England's planning system to make it more efficient and inclusive.

Data Hackathon: exploring how open data can help transform the planning system

The hackathon team standing in a room looking at ideas on a white board

Find out how a recent hackathon was used to start to build an app, based on open planning datasets, which could be used to help identify brownfield land for development.

Using data design to transform the planning application process: get involved

Planning data illustration

In order to make the planning applications process smoother and more efficient we need to ensure the right data is available, in the right format. In this post the Data Design team explain how they are now working to develop new data standards and are keen to collaborate with the planning community to create specifications that work for everyone.

Exploring the use of artificial intelligence to streamline the planning process

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning, Innovation
a residential area seen from above

Planning documents often contain vast amounts of valuable information, but accessing and using this data can be challenging. Artificial intelligence offers a potentially promising solution to extract key information and insights, and this post talks about how the Digital Planning Programme is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to streamline the planning process.

PropTech Innovation Fund: how it's helped identify barriers to adoption of digital engagement tools and the role of government and partners to reduce them

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning, Innovation, PropTech
A group of people sitting around a table and discussing something

Through Rounds 1-3 of the PropTech Innovation Fund, we have funded 65 pilots involving 47 different LPAs. This blog post outlines the top five barriers identified through our pilots and research. If these are addressed, we believe they will help enable the adoption of digital engagement tools at scale.