Digital Planning Directory Celebrates Two Major Milestones in London
Leaders from across the planning, academic and technology sectors gathered today to celebrate a significant moment in the digital transformation of planning.
Digital Planning Directory Celebrates Two Major Milestones in London
London, 25 March 2026 — Leaders from across the planning, academic and technology sectors gathered today at King’s College London to celebrate a significant moment in the digital transformation of planning.
The event marked the launch of two key initiatives: the Digital Planning Education and Training Listing and the Digital Planning Directory Annual Impact & Vision Report (2025–26).
Around 100 attendees, including representatives from universities, local planning authorities, industry, government and the student community, came together to reflect on progress over the past year and to underscore the growing importance of digital skills within the planning profession.
Now live on the Digital Planning Directory, the new Education and Training Listing brings together courses and programmes designed to equip planners with digital expertise. Its inaugural edition features 22 university courses alongside a range of professional training opportunities, creating a single gateway for skills development.
The event also celebrated the first anniversary of the Digital Planning Directory. Over the past year, the platform has attracted more than 45,000 users, helped connect a previously fragmented sector, and strengthened collaboration across local government, industry and academia.
Speakers included Dr Wei Yang, CEO of the Digital Task Force for Planning; Bridget Wilkins, Head of Adoption, Engagement and Innovation at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government; Professor Mark Plumbley, Head of the Department of Informatics at King’s College London; and Professor Michael Batty, Chair of the Digital Task Force for Planning. Together, they highlighted how both launches represent a major step towards a more modern, digitally enabled planning system and profession.
Dr Wei Yang OBE, Co-Founder and CEO of the Digital Task Force for Planning, said:
“Planning is entering a new digital era. Addressing challenges such as climate change, housing delivery and sustainable growth requires planners to work with data, digital tools and knowledge from a wider range of disciplines.
“The new Digital Planning Education and Training Listing brings together leading programmes that combine planning, urban analytics and digital technology. By supporting both the next generation of planners and the upskilling of those already in the profession, this initiative will help build a digitally confident planning profession — one capable of harnessing innovation to deliver better places and communities.
“I am also delighted to launch the Directory’s first annual impact review and share our vision for the future. As a catalyst for collective effort and shared benefit, the Directory has, in its first year, brought together some of the UK’s most innovative digital planning service providers across ten categories, helping to break down barriers and accelerate the adoption of digital innovation in everyday planning practice.”
Professor Mark Plumbley, Head of the Department of Informatics at King’s College London, said:
“King’s College London is proud to support the Digital Planning Directory and its new Education & Training Listing. Modernising planning education is essential to creating a more digitally confident sector, and this initiative brings together universities and training providers with a shared commitment to the public good.
“We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the Digital Task Force for Planning in strengthening the skills, evidence and innovation needed to shape better and more resilient places for the future.”
The celebratory atmosphere reflected a strong sense of momentum, marking another step in the Digital Task Force for Planning’s broader mission to strengthen digital capability and nurture future talent across the planning sector.
