PropTech

A faster start to local plan-making: introducing the 'Submit a site for a local plan' tool

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Digital Planning, PropTech
A mock-up of the Submit a site for the local plan tool, shown with the fictional Planhamshire Borough Council.

Local planning authorities (LPAs) can spend months handling inconsistent site submissions for their local plan. We have built a free tool to standardise how site information is submitted, helping authorities save time making their assessments, and contributing to faster plan-making. We're now looking for LPAs to help us test it.

Using AI to support faster local plan consultation analysis 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Artificial Intelligence, Data, Digital Planning, PropTech
A planning officer sitting at a desk with the PlanAI tool displayed on the computer screen in front of her.

AI is helping planning teams cut through the time-consuming work of consultation analysis. A pilot has been extended with 5 more planning authorities, delivering efficiency gains and freeing officers to focus on judgement and engagement. But success depends on strong governance, good data structure and proper quality assurance.

Tackling planning delays: PropTech Innovation Fund Round 6 pilots now underway

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Two surveyors in high visibility jackets, overseeing a housing construction site

11 consortiums of technology companies, local planning and combined authorities have been selected for Round 6 of the Digital Planning Programme’s PropTech Innovation Fund, to pilot digital solutions targeting blockers to housing delivery.

The planning technology projects changing the planning system

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Planning, PropTech
An aerial view of a residential area

New technology is transforming how planning is delivered. 3 of the 4 finalists in this year's Planning Awards' digital technology category are funded by the Digital Planning programme, demonstrating how AI tools and technology are saving time, improving consistency and helping deliver 1.5 million homes.

Stress-testing an AI tool to explore its potential for faster local plans and greater citizen engagement 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Planning, PropTech
A planning officer sitting at a desk with the PlanAI tool displayed on the computer screen in front of her.

We’re exploring if AI can help support faster local plan preparation. An AI tool developed by Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and the University of Liverpool is now being stress-tested by 5 local authorities, to see if the initial results – accurate consultation summaries produced in a fraction of the time - can be replicated elsewhere.

A year of transforming England’s planning system 

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The Open Digital Planning community gathering at an event in Medway, in 2025

Read about our year transforming England's planning system through new partnerships, innovations and momentum. Everything we do aims to give communities a planning system that is data-driven, efficient and accessible, supporting the government's mission to deliver 1.5 million homes this Parliament.

New draft guidance published to support faster and clearer local plan-making 

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Aerial view of green space with businesses and housing

Read about the details of a new plan-making system for England. It will ensure local plans, which are created by councils to shape development in their area, are simpler, faster to prepare, and more accessible for everyone. Learn about new user-tested digital guidance and tools published in draft to help plan-makers deliver local plans faster.

PropTech innovation takes on housing delivery challenges  

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A group of people including Chief Planner Joanna Averley and representatives from the 12 selected pilots

Following rigorous judging, 12 project teams have been selected from 84 applications to tackle three fundamental problems holding back housing delivery in England. Working alongside local authority and developer partners, each innovator will work until March 2026 testing their solutions in the real world.

Digital Planning: From pilots to scale – how PropTech partnerships are unlocking its potential   

Through strategic partnerships with Geovation, the UK PropTech Association, and the Digital Task Force for Planning, the Digital Planning programme is evolving its approach to scale the adoption of PropTech. We're bridging public and private sectors with one shared goal: converting PropTech's proven potential into systematic change that can help deliver 1.5 million homes and …

Unlocking innovation in planning: Reflections on the PropTech Innovation Challenge 

Two surveyors in high visibility jackets, overseeing a housing construction site

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.