Open Systems Lab Ltd
Plan✕ - Find out if you need planning permission
Plan✕ - Find out if you need planning permission
Details:
- Company: Open Systems Lab Ltd
- Client: England LPAs
- Year: 2023
- Region: England
- Product: Plan✕
Service areas:
- Plan-making, planning application and data management systems
Introduction
A self-serve alternative to phone and email enquiries
Challenges
Answering a simple question like ‘Do I need planning permission to change my windows?’ usually requires navigating multiple different websites and documents. This is frustrating for the public, but also puts a huge burden of calls, emails, errors and avoidable enforcement cases on councils.
Solutions
‘Find out if..’ is a free service that allows users to answer questions like this for themselves, 24/7, by finding their property and answering a few questions. It also acts as a kind of triage, guiding users to where they need to go next.
Results
↓ 60% reduction in phone enquiries - LB Camden
↑ 960% increase in citizens accessing this service with approx. 7000 usages per year - Doncaster
↑ 81% increase in revenue from Lawful Development Certificate service as a result of users being guided to the service they needed - Doncaster
↑ 960% increase in citizens accessing this service with approx. 7000 usages per year - Doncaster
↑ 81% increase in revenue from Lawful Development Certificate service as a result of users being guided to the service they needed - Doncaster
‘Find out if’ has been a saviour, because it has reduced the burden on duty officers. That has freed-up staff to focus on statutory deliverables.’
Jenna Rumley
Innovation Manager - Doncaster Council
