The Digital Task Force for Planning has launched the Digital Planning Directory, describing it as a ‘one stop shop’ for digital planning services.
The not-for-profit organisation has developed the directory with seed funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), and said it is free to use for local authorities and also accessible to stakeholders in the private sector.
The development reflects the growing importance of digital tools and services for local planning authorities, streamlining processes and enabling faster development of infrastructure.
Speaking at the launch event, which was supported by the Local Government Association (LGA), Dr Wei Yang, CEO of the Digital Task Force for Planning, said the directory has been developed to consolidate data and knowledge about the available services, which until now has been very fragmented, and as a step towards creating an effective ecosystem to support digital planning.
It is currently regarded as a minimum viable product and will be further developed through a series of iterations with feedback from users, including from a survey planned by the Task Force.
Service areas
The directory currently provides details of services from 88 providers in 10 service areas: community engagement; visualisation, 3D modelling and animations; geographical information systems and mapping; environmental and sustainability services; planning and urban design services; land search and assessment; AI and software solutions; plan making, planning application and data management systems; organisational digital transformation; and digital twins.
It contains information about service providers, including their areas of expertise, services, case studies, and contact details, along with search and filtering functions to help users discover tools and expertise that meet specific needs and objectives.
Yang added: “Looking ahead to 2025, we’ll enhance the directory with new features including a procurement support resource hub and a digital planning education and training listing. We’re also planning regular events to share and promote digital planning best practices across the sector.
“We continue to welcome more digital planning service providers to join the directory and look forward to collaborating with like-minded organisations.”
The Task Force said the need for the direcory has become clear from recent research – from MHCLG’s first annual survey of planning capacity among English councils – that found only 17% of staff said they had the necessary skills and knowledge to identify the right digital planning tools. Also, only 15% of local authorities felt they had the knowledge to source and secure the right tools.
Financial benefits
Mick Dunn, a business development specialist for geospatial at Nottingham City Council, told the launch event that it had run a return on investment study that showed several financial benefits for councils and other stakeholders through using digital tools in the planning process.
Among its findings were that there was a 2:1 benefit-to-cost ratio in internal planning processes, and 20:1 for users in the architecture, engineering and construction sector.
“This clearly demonstrates that the financial benefits outweigh the investment costs,” Dunn said.
Joanna Key, director general for regeneration, housing and planning at MHCLG, said: “The launch of this Digital Planning Directory marks a significant step forward in modernising our planning system. This free, comprehensive resource will help both public and private sector planners embrace digital tools that can transform how we plan for the homes and infrastructure our communities need.
“This early success, working with the Digital Task Force for Planning, just months after signing our memorandum of uUnderstanding, demonstrates the power of collaboration between public and private sectors.
“It's a crucial milestone in establishing local government as pioneers of digital planning, and I'm excited about the further innovations our partnership with the Digital Task Force for Planning will deliver.”
Complementing innovation
Cllr Adam Hug, planning spokesperson for the LGA, said: “Councils want and need a modern, innovative planning system, and the Digital Planning Directory is a great asset that will help update this vital system.
“To complement this innovation, councils look forward to working further with the Government to better help recruit and retain the planners and built environment professionals required to support an efficient locally led planning system in order to build the homes we need.”
