Planda
Planda x Idox - Meet Ava: Your application validation assistant
Planda x Idox - Meet Ava: Your application validation assistant
Details:
- Company: Planda
- Client: Idox
- Year: 2025
- Region: UK-wide
Service areas:
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and software solutions
- Plan-making, planning application and data management systems
Introduction
Idox, the UK's leading planning software provider, partnered with Planda to launch Ava, an AI-powered Application Validation Assistant. This collaboration brings together Idox's four decades of experience supporting local authorities with Planda's advanced AI and planning intelligence capabilities to transform how councils validate planning applications nationwide.
Challenges
Validation remains one of the most time-consuming stages of the planning process. Officers manually review each application against national and local requirements, checking documents and coordinating with applicants when information is missing. This detailed, essential work creates bottlenecks, delays decisions, and limits officer capacity for complex casework requiring professional judgment.
Solutions
Ava analyses forms, documents, and supporting evidence against national and local validation requirements. It identifies potential issues, helps manage communications with applicants, and streamlines the document correction process. Seamlessly integrated into Idox systems (Uniform and Idox Cloud), Ava enhances validation efficiency whilst officers maintain full control and oversight throughout.
Results
Councils benefit from reduced validation times, fewer invalid applications, and enhanced officer capacity for complex work. Built with council input and integrated into trusted systems, Ava demonstrates how AI can meaningfully support planning services.
“This partnership is about combining strengths. Planda brings cutting-edge AI capability, and Idox brings decades of experience working alongside local authorities. Together, Ava will help councils reduce invalid applications, save officer time, and improve outcomes for communities. And this is only the beginning.”
Scott Goodwin
Divisional Director (Land, Property & Public Protection), Idox.