Looking back over its nearly 80-year history, it is clear England’s town and country planning system has experienced unprecedented transformation in recent years. What was once an overwhelming analogue system – where plans were heavy, paper-based documents and physical letters, pamphlets and posters were the primary means of community engagement – has started to be transformed.
The push for digitisation has allowed for easier access to information and created efficiencies in almost all ancillary processes in planning. Local authorities now consult online, provide digital portals for viewing and commenting on planning applications and publish documents on their websites.
Yet, the surface has only been scratched on the potential of digital planning in the UK, with the most revolutionary technological transformations perhaps set to come to fruition over the next few years. One element of particular interest is how new data processing technology could speed up the often-criticised slow pace of planning in the UK.
Already, artificial intelligence (AI) programmes can be used to review digital planning applications; running through a check list of information that should be present and instantly flagging issues for the local authorities or applicants to address. Similarly, AI can be deployed to assess and categorise written representations to planning applications, plans and policies, producing quick summary reports for review.
The government has recognised the opportunity to improve the speed, efficiency and outcomes of the planning system through digitisation. Digital planning pilots have recently taken place to inform how aspects of the planning process can be digitised. Yet, rolling out a nationwide digital planning system across England’s 333 local authorities is a significant logistical challenge.
Rolling out a nationwide digital planning system across England’s 333 local authorities is a significant logistical challenge.
This would require the creation of a standardised piece of software workable and applicable to a wide range of different places, including coastal authorities, national parks, large metropolitan areas and rural areas. However, delivering an effective common digital interface with cross-authority consensus and standardised agreements on how data sets will be put together is worth taking the time to get right.
Failure to achieve standardisation and get buy-in from local authorities will ultimately undermine the quality, reusability and interoperability of the digital data being collected – in essence, limiting the potential gains of creating a digital planning system in the first place and simply adding to the complexity and delays that mar the current system.
Besides the clear efficiencies of a digital planning system, one of the lesser-talked-about benefits of digitisation is democratisation of the planning system. The current system can be confusing and difficult for the wider public – and developers – to engage with. Moving everything to a digital platform should make it far easier for all stakeholders to take part in and a smoother process for users.
Ultimately, getting under the skin of all aspects of the planning system and accessing higher-quality data will allow greater collaboration with other governmental departments and lead to the production of far more advanced and co-ordinated plans for infrastructure and development. This will be essential if planning is to meet complex environmental, social and economic challenges over the next decade – including climate change, creating socially inclusive and healthy places to live and addressing the national housing crisis.
Richard Laming is senior director at Turley
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