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Funding boost to support digital planning innovation

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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

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.

Setting the foundations for faster plan-making 

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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.

Digital Planning: scaling the Planning Data service 

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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  

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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 

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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 

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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.

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.

Accelerating the adoption of Digital Citizen Engagement tools in planning: insights from DLUHC’s PropTech Innovation Fund

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PropTech Innovation Fund Round 2: 28 pilots 39 Local Authorities 20 PropTech suppliers Funding allowed local planning authorities to deliver a digital engagement project addressing one of five themes: Masterplanning Council-Led Development Estate Regeneration Community Development Wildcard Pilots

As part of the wider DLUHC Digital Planning programme, Round 2 of the PropTech Innovation Fund was launched in March 2022 working with 36 LPA partners and 20 Property Technology (PropTech) companies to accelerate the adoption of digital tools and services in the planning process. Discover more about key insights from funded projects in this blog post.