Step towards a fully digital planning system

Step towards a fully digital planning system

15:23 PM, 30th June 2021, About 3 years ago 3

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MHCLG has launched two new web apps to will help owners improve and extend their properties and are a step towards a fully digital planning system and will save time and money for developers, architects and homeowners by speeding up and simplifying the application process.

Many home improvements, such as kitchen extensions and loft conversions, don’t need full planning permission, but the rules are complicated and often result in people submitting invalid applications for ‘permitted developments’, wasting time and money.

The new app for homeowners uses simple language and diagrams to help navigate the system. It asks a series of questions and determines whether the plans meet local and national requirements. Users can then apply within the app for the certificate they need to show their plans are permitted development, allowing building to go ahead.

A second app will help council planning officials manage permitted development applications – tracking progress and putting the information they need to make decisions in a user-friendly format. It puts the focus on data rather than documents, helping planners make decisions much more quickly and efficiently.

The apps are being tested in 3 areas. They are a first step towards the aim, outlined in last year’s ‘Planning for the future’ white paper, of replacing the current outdated, paper-based system with one that is digital from start to finish – doing away with hundred-page PDFs and inaccessible information, and putting data and decision-making in the palm of your hand.

Secretary of State for Housing, Robert Jenrick, said: “We want to speed up the planning process, to help families make improvements to their homes more quickly. These apps are a step towards a planning system that is transparent, efficient, and end-to-end digital – saving time and money for developers, architects and homeowners, and letting planners focus on the merits of applications rather than chasing paperwork.”

Rob Bristow, Lambeth’s Director of Planning, Transport and Sustainability commented: “Around half of the planning applications we receive in Lambeth are found to be invalid – mostly because people have difficulty interpreting the complex planning requirements to make valid applications. The RIPA app will guide users through the rules, based on what they want to do and where in the borough their property is, to see whether their plans meet the requirements.

“Along with the BoPS app, which will see a hugely improved back-end system for planners to use in their assessments, these exciting new tools will not only provide an enhanced experience for property owners, they will also enable interested parties such as neighbours to be consulted sooner, and help planning officers process applications more effectively.”

Further information

The apps have been designed by 3 English councils and funded by the government’s Local Digital Fund. Those councils – Southwark and Lambeth in London, and Buckinghamshire – are now testing the apps in their areas.

The app for homeowners, architects and developers is called RIPA – Reducing Invalid Planning Applications.

The app for planning officials is known as BoPS (Back office Planning System).


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Comments

Smartermind

9:21 AM, 1st July 2021, About 3 years ago

Hope these apps don't have inbuilt council planning bureaucracy so instead of getting a rejection from a human, you get a reply "the computer says no".

Hopefully it will prevent councils applying arbitrary rules.

John Dace

11:08 AM, 1st July 2021, About 3 years ago

Application for permitted development?
No permission required - its ‘Permitted’. (Even though website is riddled with “best ask anyway”.). The rules should be clear and comprehensive from the start - not wishy washy. ‘Probably ok but ask anyway”. Conservation areas in particular - everything is ‘apply just in case’. If the councils enforce laws on us to do or not do certain things, the least they should do is tell us all at the outset what those things are. If the Road Traffic Act said
‘You must be a certain age to drive - usually 17 - but consult your local Police station to ask” - what a nightmare and a few thousand extra Police to consult with. Sometimes I think council planning officers love ‘wish washy’ as that brings in more enquiries and therefore more need for their jobs.

(

CazT

12:53 PM, 1st July 2021, About 3 years ago

I bet the apps are linked to HM Customs & Excise as well….

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