Digital Planning Directory

The objective of the Directory is to enhance transparency and knowledge-sharing in the digital planning market, promote fair competition, and facilitate informed decision-making for those looking to adopt and use digital planning tools and services.

It seeks to foster the development of a comprehensive ecosystem that supports and advances digital planning initiatives, stimulating innovation in the sector in the UK.

It aims to bridge technical gaps by breaking down barriers between digital planning and mainstream planning practices, facilitating smoother integration and understanding.

The Directory includes a range of UK digital planning service providers, including Community Engagement; Visualisation,3D Modelling, and Animations; Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Mapping; Environmental and Sustainability Services; Planning and Urban Design Services; Land Search and Assessment; Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Software Solutions; Plan-making, Planning Application and Data Management Systems; Organisational Digital Transformation; and Digital Twins.

Each service provider listed in the Directory demonstrates expertise in at least one of these defined categories, offering state-of-the-art digital planning solutions to streamline and improve planning processes. A maximum of five of the most relevant categories can be selected by each provider.

We have a thorough validation process to ensure that only reputable digital service providers are listed in the Digital Planning Directory. Each company undergoes a careful vetting process before approval. If a provider is found to have submitted false information, or if we receive direct negative feedback or warnings from their clients, we will contact the company for clarification. If the response is unsatisfactory, we reserve the right to suspend the company’s public profile display until the issue is resolved. In extreme cases, if necessary, we will remove the company from the Directory.

Yes, there is a validation process for listings in the Digital Planning Directory.

This process is conducted by the Digital Task Force for Planning and involves three steps:

Step 1 – Initial Review

Step 2 – Full Account Setup

Step 3 – Full Content and Compliance Check

For more details, please read about Our Validation Process.

The Directory is always open to new entries, and approved companies can update their entries at any time to ensure it reflects the most current and relevant providers in the digital planning space.

The Task Force will also conduct annual reviews to collect feedback. If deemed necessary after a review, the service area categories and filters will be updated.

Additionally, further functions and resources will be continually added to the Directory to ensure it continues to meet user needs.

To be listed in the Directory, providers must have a valid legal status and possess relevant digital expertise in the service areas covered by the Directory.

Legal Status

The following are eligible for listing in the Directory:

• A legal entity (such as a private limited company or LLP) legally registered with Companies House in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, or Scotland.
• Or a legal entity registered in another country and operating in the UK with at least one UK office and a minimum of three completed or ongoing digital planning projects in the UK.

Note:

• Companies (or other legal entities) without a UK base and with fewer than three UK projects are not eligible to be listed in the Directory at this stage.
• The first-year free entry for the first 150 businesses registered by 31 March 2025 is exclusively available to UK legal entities registered at UK Companies House.
• References in the Directory and these FAQs to “companies” includes the other kinds of legal entities which are eligible through their legal status as specified above.

Relevance and Expertise:

Providers eligible for listing in the Directory must demonstrate that their innovative digital solutions fall within at least one of the following service areas:

• Community Engagement: Facilitating public participation, community consultation, stakeholder engagement (including gamifications), and statutory consultation reporting.
• Visualisation,3D Modelling, and Animations: Creating digital visual representations, including 2D illustrations, 3D models, and animations of urban environments and development proposals.
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Mapping: Collecting, presenting, managing, and analysing data spatially.
• Environmental and Sustainability Services: Evaluating, managing, monitoring, and optimising environmental and sustainability metrics, including scenario design and simulation.
• Planning and Urban Design Services: Description: Innovative digital solutions for town and country planning and urban design, integrating planning, design, and analytical components to optimise living environments and create efficiencies in placemaking processes.
• Land Search and Assessment: Description: Identifying, evaluating, and analysing land for development opportunities, including viability assessments and options analyses.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Software Solutions: AI and software development services tailored for urban planning and management.
• Plan-making, Planning Application and Data Management Systems: Managing plan-making and planning application processes and data, including data standardisation, development management solutions, workflow management and regulatory compliance.
• Organisational Digital Transformation: Transforming organisational processes through digital solutions, including strategy and implementation.
• Digital Twins: Creating and managing digital replicas of physical assets and environments, enhancing real-time monitoring and simulation.

A maximum of five of the most relevant categories service areas can be selected by each company.

The initial 1-year free listing period (starting from the expected launch date in January 2025) is available to the first 150 qualified companies registered at UK Companies House (including qualified registered legal entities registered in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland but excluding companies registered in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or British Overseas Territories, such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands) that complete all three validation steps and are fully registered in the Directory by 11:59pm on 31 March 2025.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Digital Task Force for Planning retain the final authority to interpret and clarify the terms and conditions for awarding the free listing period to qualified companies.