The UK Government has launched two new AI planning tools to modernize the UK’s planning permission system
Smart use of AI planning tools will speed decision-making and support this Congress’ plan to build 1.5 million homes.
This new advancement complements existing AI, which converts decades of historic planning records into digital data in minutes, and is now available to all councils in the UK.
Minister for Housing and Planning Matthew Pennycook explained: “Our planning system remains heavily reliant on cumbersome paper-based processes, wasting the time of professional planning officers and causing delays for even the most routine types of applications.
We are bringing the system into the 21st century by leveraging AI to streamline the planning application process, empower planners to make faster and better decisions, and reduce unnecessary delays. ”
New AI prototype cuts plan application time in half
The first is a new AI prototype that aims to halve the time it takes to process householders’ planning applications from an average of eight weeks to four.
Early stage testing is being carried out with Barnet, Camden and Dorset councils. Prototype planning tools prioritize applications, summarize important information, and provide planners with an initial assessment to consider when making decisions.
It was created by the government in collaboration with Google DeepMind, Google Cloud, departments and local planning authorities.
If successful, the technology would be rolled out across the country by 2027, with all assessments reviewed and approved by qualified planners before decisions are made.
Modernize old documents and maps in minutes
Another AI planning tool, Extract, is now available to all UK parliaments, following the Prime Minister’s promise last year.
Use AI to help planners transform decades-old planning documents and maps (and sometimes even handwritten notes) into actionable data in minutes.
Extract saves planners an estimated 250,000 hours per year manually checking these documents. Digitizing these documents and publishing them as data will give police officers and the public easy access to high-quality planning data, creating the right foundation for next-generation tools that can significantly reduce the delays that plague the system.
Last year, the Chancellor announced that Extract would be available to all local planning authorities in England by spring 2026. Today, the government is delivering on that promise.
Working towards the 1.5m housing goal
The announcement marks another step in the government’s efforts to build 1.5 million homes and use technology to improve public services.
The rollout of new AI planning tools represents a step change in productivity, freeing up thousands of hours for planners to focus on decision-making and accelerate home construction.
It will also accelerate the delivery of much-needed homes, improve confidence in the planning process, reduce costs and save time for councils and developers.
Lila Ibrahim, Chief AI Enablement Officer at Google DeepMind commented: “There is an opportunity in the UK to build the homes that communities need, but local councils are faced with a mountain of red tape.
“That’s why we are working directly with councils to develop sophisticated planning tools to solve real-world bottlenecks. This will significantly reduce decision-making time, freeing planners to focus on the future and helping Britain build faster.”
