Addland
Atlas: Transforming Planning Engagement in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
Atlas: Transforming Planning Engagement in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
Details:
- Company: Addland
- Client: Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
- Year: 2025
- Region: England
- Product: Addland Atlas
Service areas:
- Plan-making, planning application and data management systems
Introduction
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) wanted to modernise its planning system and make it easier for residents to find, review, and comment on planning applications. The council partnered with Addland to create Atlas, a new digital planning portal designed to deliver faster, more transparent, and more engaging access to planning information.
Backed by MHCLG, Atlas is part of a wider government initiative to improve digital planning services and increase citizen participation. Developed in close collaboration with local residents, estate agents, architects, and planning officers, Atlas was built to serve the people who rely on planning data most.
Backed by MHCLG, Atlas is part of a wider government initiative to improve digital planning services and increase citizen participation. Developed in close collaboration with local residents, estate agents, architects, and planning officers, Atlas was built to serve the people who rely on planning data most.
Challenges
The existing planning search experience at RBKC was outdated and difficult to use, particularly for residents who wanted to understand or comment on applications near them.
Key challenges included:
– Limited public engagement with planning applications.
– Slow and non-mobile-friendly user experience.
– Complex, text-heavy systems that discouraged participation.
– Administrative inefficiencies caused by duplicated work and manual processing of public comments.
RBKC wanted to lead by example, delivering a digital planning experience that matched the borough’s ambition for design quality, accessibility, and community involvement.
Key challenges included:
– Limited public engagement with planning applications.
– Slow and non-mobile-friendly user experience.
– Complex, text-heavy systems that discouraged participation.
– Administrative inefficiencies caused by duplicated work and manual processing of public comments.
RBKC wanted to lead by example, delivering a digital planning experience that matched the borough’s ambition for design quality, accessibility, and community involvement.
Solutions
Developed by Addland’s engineering and design teams, Atlas reimagines how people access and interact with planning information.
Key features include:
– Faster performance: Significant improvements in speed and reliability.
– Mobile compatibility: Fully responsive design for on-the-go access.
– Interactive map and list views: Users can switch easily between map-based and list-based searches.
– Smart search and filters: Find applications by address, street, ward, or area.
– Improved comment submission system: Simplified workflows for residents and officers alike.
– Contextual data layers: Flood zones, listed buildings, and conservation areas at launch, with more to follow.
The portal’s design was shaped through close collaboration with three resident societies, representing hundreds of residents, whose feedback ensured the platform was truly user-centred.
Key features include:
– Faster performance: Significant improvements in speed and reliability.
– Mobile compatibility: Fully responsive design for on-the-go access.
– Interactive map and list views: Users can switch easily between map-based and list-based searches.
– Smart search and filters: Find applications by address, street, ward, or area.
– Improved comment submission system: Simplified workflows for residents and officers alike.
– Contextual data layers: Flood zones, listed buildings, and conservation areas at launch, with more to follow.
The portal’s design was shaped through close collaboration with three resident societies, representing hundreds of residents, whose feedback ensured the platform was truly user-centred.
Results
In its first month of lauching in July 2025, Atlas has had a measurable impact on how residents and planning officers engage with the borough’s planning data:
– 30,044 unique visitors in the first month.
– 55,907 planning applications viewed.
– 628 public comments submitted.
– 2,500+ hours saved by residents through faster access and navigation.
– 104 hours saved by planning officers thanks to workflow improvements in the comments system.
As Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Lead Member for Planning and Environment at RBKC, said:
“We are making it easier than ever for residents to get involved in the planning process. The new system means you can find planning applications and relevant policies in a couple of clicks, with interactive maps that bring schemes to life.”
– 30,044 unique visitors in the first month.
– 55,907 planning applications viewed.
– 628 public comments submitted.
– 2,500+ hours saved by residents through faster access and navigation.
– 104 hours saved by planning officers thanks to workflow improvements in the comments system.
As Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Lead Member for Planning and Environment at RBKC, said:
“We are making it easier than ever for residents to get involved in the planning process. The new system means you can find planning applications and relevant policies in a couple of clicks, with interactive maps that bring schemes to life.”
“Partnering with Addland has enabled us to simplify the planning process and deliver a more accessible, user-friendly experience for residents and professionals alike. Atlas has transformed how people interact with planning data in our borough.”
Jago Williams
Head of Building Control, Land Charges and Business Development