From Data to Decisions, Rethinking the Role of Digital Planning Registers

Thomas McAlpine, Founder of Tytl (renamed from Addland)

“Digital planning registers work best when they are designed around real users, making information easy to find, understand and act on.”

Across the UK, local authorities are reimagining how planning information is delivered and accessed. The shift toward digital planning is more than a technological upgrade, it represents a cultural change in how councils engage with the public, manage data, and make decisions about the places where we live and work.

Government programmes under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have accelerated this movement, encouraging councils to adopt modern, user-focused systems.

Over the past year, several pioneering authorities have demonstrated how digital tools can achieve this. Early results show what is possible when planning systems are designed around user needs rather than legacy processes.

The Challenge – Fragmentation and Complexity

Planning data in many councils remains fragmented across multiple systems, formats, and departments. Residents seeking to comment on a local application often face dense lists of documents, static PDFs, and unclear terminology. For planning officers, hours are lost cross-checking information between internal databases, GIS tools, and public portals.

These inefficiencies have real consequences. They slow down decision-making, reduce engagement, and erode trust between communities and planning authorities. Developers and consultants, meanwhile, must navigate a patchwork of local systems, each with its own quirks and limitations.

This fragmentation has become one of the key barriers to faster housing delivery and better public participation. To overcome it, local authorities are beginning to look beyond the concept of “planning software” and toward fully fledged digital services.

The Shift – Planning as a Public Digital Service

Many councils are now treating their planning registers not just as repositories of information, but as live public services designed for accessibility, transparency, and participation.

Rather than static lists, these new systems present data in interactive map-based views. Users can search by street, ward, or postcode and see relevant applications in context. Layers such as flood risk, heritage boundaries, or conservation areas give instant spatial understanding that was previously hidden behind technical documents.

This user-centred approach has already had a visible impact. In one borough, more than 30,000 people accessed planning data within the first month of launch, viewing over 55,000 applications and submitting hundreds of comments online. The ability to visualise development in context and respond easily encouraged far more residents to take part in the planning process.

At the same time, councils saw clear efficiency gains. By redesigning how public comments were collected and processed, officers reduced the average time spent handling each response from around twelve minutes to less than two. The lesson is clear: digital design done well saves both time and effort while improving democratic engagement.

What We’ve Learned So Far

The success of recent digital planning pilots has revealed a few consistent themes.

First, collaboration is crucial. The most effective systems have been co-designed with input from residents, planning officers, and professional users such as architects and agents. This ensures the final service reflects real-world needs rather than assumptions.

Second, accessibility and performance matter as much as data quality. A platform that loads quickly, works on mobile devices, and uses plain language builds trust. Digital inclusion begins with usability.

Third, local context cannot be ignored. While the principles of good design are universal, every authority has its own planning character, policy environment, and datasets. The flexibility to add bespoke map layers, such as local plan allocations, tree preservation orders, or design codes, enables councils to tailor digital systems to their specific priorities.

Finally, data integration remains key. Modern planning platforms must work seamlessly with legacy systems like Acolaid or Uniform to ensure continuity. The goal is not to replace existing infrastructure but to connect it intelligently so that updates flow automatically between back-office systems and public portals.

Looking Ahead – Integration and Collaboration

The next step in digital planning reform will be to break down barriers between departments. Planning rarely operates in isolation; it intersects with building control, licensing, housing, and environmental services. Each of these generates valuable data that, if connected, could give councils a holistic view of place-making and development activity.

Emerging systems are already beginning to explore this. By integrating planning data with building control and licensing workflows, councils can monitor development from application to completion, spotting overlaps or inconsistencies early. This joined-up approach not only improves decision-making but also reduces administrative overhead and duplication of effort.

Equally important is the potential to make this data accessible to the public. A well-designed digital register can help residents see the full story of how their local area is evolving – what is being proposed, what has been approved, and how it aligns with local policy. Transparency at this level helps build confidence and trust in the planning system.

As more councils adopt these approaches, collaboration across the sector will be essential. The future of digital planning depends not on any single platform or provider, but on a shared commitment to openness, inclusivity, and innovation in service of the public good.

Views expressed here are personal.