Introduction

Planning regulations can be complex, especially for homeowners, who make up over 40% of applicants. Most lack a clear understanding of what constitutes development and struggle to navigate the planning process. Faced with generic information and daunting regulations, homeowners often choose between navigating the process themselves, risking costly errors, or paying steep fees to engage professionals (with no guarantees). As a result, many abandon their plans or miss opportunities for home improvements and adaptations. These challenges hinder retrofitting and improvements to meet evolving needs, leaving homeowners frustrated and limiting the potential of their properties.

Challenges

PlanningHub set out to test the capabilities of automated, AI-driven pre-planning advice tailored to simple domestic projects. The goal was to make specific, location-relevant planning information easily accessible for homeowners. Thirty participants, current or prospective homeowners, tested the tool across more than 80 project types including extensions, alterations, outbuildings, retrofitting, upgrading, and creating access for the disabled. The AI tool aimed to deliver comprehensive planning insights much faster and more economically. The challenge was to present complex, multi-layered planning rules in a way that non-cognate users could easily understand. Testers wanted clear insights into limitations, restrictions, and comparative successes of similar applications to make informed decisions.

Solutions

PlanningHub’s automated solution addressed the common domestic homeowner’s needs by offering quick, cost-effective, and easily comprehensible pre-planning advice. It generated tailored reports, specific to each user’s project and location, helping them grasp the planning application type required, key requirements, and significant planning considerations. Feedback revealed that users wanted detailed yet simple explanations of constraints and opportunities, insights into potential restrictions, and references to successful past applications. PlanningHub provided summaries of restrictions if a project falls under permitted development rights, or planning considerations if it requires a planning application. This gave homeowners an insight into project viability and limitations before making financial or time commitments. Key enhancements requested included visual representations of conditions and clearer indicators of the likelihood of application success

Results

PlanningHub reports effectively provided users with detailed responses for Lawful Development Certificates, Prior Approvals, and full planning applications. The AI tool delivered this information in 25 to 45 seconds per query, including requirements, detailed designation limitations, relevant policy summaries, site history, and potential Article 4 impacts. Reports also highlighted any restrictive covenants, offering a complete overview of what could be done within legal and policy boundaries. These AI-generated reports enabled users to better understand their projects’ prospects and limitations, helping them plan confidently. Participants expressed satisfaction with the level of detail provided, though they recommended enhancements such as graphic depictions and clearer assessments of future success rates for applications.

Overall, PlanningHub demonstrated that AI could significantly streamline planning advice, making the process accessible and actionable for homeowners. Crucially, it can also be used by LPAs to save time and effort in dealing with pre-planning advice on domestic planning queries.

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