New AI prototype being piloted by three councils designed to halve decision times on home improvements
The government is making two new AI tools available to local authorities, aiming to accelerate council planning decision times for householder applications.
The tools have been designed to help councils decide the outcome of applications concerning home extensions, loft conversions and other home improvements.
The first is Augmented Planning Decisions (APD), an AI prototype that aims to halve the time it takes to process householder planning applications, down from eight to four weeks for an average case. It triages applications, summarises key information and provides planning officers with an initial assessment they can consider when making their decision.
It has been created by the government alongside British-American AI research laboratory Google DeepMind, computing service Google Cloud, UK AI firm Faculty and local planning authorities. It is currently in early stage testing with Barnet, Camden and Dorset councils.
The second tool is Extract, which is now available to all councils in England following trials across 20 local planning authorities last year. It helps planning officers convert historic planning documents and maps, sometimes with handwritten notes, into readily usable data within minutes.
According to the government, householder applications account for nearly 70% of planning applications each year.
It said the use of APD would help planning officers focus more on complex applications, including new housing and major developments for communities.
If successful, the technology will be rolled out nationwide by 2027, with every assessment reviewed and approved by a qualified planning officer before any decision is made.
Housing and planning minister, Matthew Pennycook, said: “We are dragging the system into the twenty-first century by harnessing the power of AI to streamline the planning application process, freeing up planners to make quicker and better decisions and reducing unnecessary delays.”
Graham Stallwood, interim chief executive at the Planning Inspectorate said: “AI guidance provided by the Planning Inspectorate upholds public and professional responsibility for the information generated and supports human control and oversight.
“We will keep our guidance under review to maintain this ‘golden rule’ for AI use, as this technology improves and we understand more about the impact on any casework.”
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