Today marks a milestone moment for the UK’s planning sector. The Digital Planning Directory was officially launched at the Local Government Association in London, co-hosted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Digital Task Force for Planning.

This milestone event brought together over 120 delegates from digital planning service providers and leaders from the public, private, and third sectors to celebrate this landmark occasion. The event united this highly innovative sector for the first time.

The Directory serves as a comprehensive, user-friendly online resource, featuring some of the most innovative digital planning service providers across ten categories. With over 200 viewers online, the launch underscored the Directory’s potential to enhance the planning process. Seed-funded by MHCLG, the Directory aims to bridge the skills gap in local planning authorities and the broader planning sector, where a recent MHCLG survey revealed limited knowledge of selecting suitable digital planning tools and services.

In addition to company profiles held on the Directory, the collection of case studies on the platform is a key destination for sharing digital planning best practices, and inspiring examples of the art of the possible. Throughout the year, the Directory will host free online themed events based on these case studies. By fostering innovation and collaboration, the Directory is set to support the government’s planning reform agenda and contribute to the development of more sustainable and inclusive communities.

MHCLG’s first annual survey of local authority planning capacity and skills, published this month, pinpoints the need for this resource.  Only 17% of staff said they had the necessary skills/knowledge to identify the right available digital planning tools and just 15% of Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) felt they have the necessary skills and knowledge to source and procure new digital planning tools. 

Importantly, as the Digital Task Force for Planning has found, 90% of LPA’s surveyed expressed enthusiasm for a dedicated digital planning resource, to help them identify the right available digital planning tools for their needs, and to make well-informed procurement decisions. 

Jo Key, Director General for Regeneration, Housing and Planning at MHCLG, said: “This free, comprehensive resource will help both public and private sector planners embrace digital tools that can transform how we plan for the homes and infrastructure our communities need.” 

Dr Wei Yang OBE, CEO of the Digital Task Force for Planning, said: “The overwhelming response from companies wanting to be listed demonstrates the industry’s commitment to the digitalisation of planning. Together, we’re creating innovative solutions that will support the government’s planning reforms and build a more sustainable and inclusive future.” 

What’s next? 

Now that the Directory is live, the team is looking to widely promote it and ensure it is well used.  There are multiple ways to be part of this digital transformation:  

• Public and private sector organisations can use the Digital Planning Directory to support their search and journey to adopt and use digital planning tools and services 
• Digital planning service providers are welcome to register to be listed in the Directory 

Key moments of the launch event

• Event speeches

• In this video, Wei Yang OBE, Cllr Adam Hug, Louise Welham, Bridget Wilkins and Mick Dunn share why this platform is a game-changer for the future of planning

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About the Digital Planning Directory

The Digital Planning Directory is a comprehensive online resource for state-of-the-art digital planning services, tailored to meet the diverse needs of stakeholders in both public and private sectors. Seed-funded by MHCLG, the Directory has been developed by the Digital Task Force for Planning since March 2024.

The purpose of the Digital Planning Directory is to bring highly fragmented digital planning sector (including PropTech, PlanTech and others) together to enhance transparency and knowledge-sharing, promote fair competition, and facilitate informed decision-making.

The project has been warmly received by key stakeholders as an important initiative toward digital planning market maturity. It reflects the evolution of the Government’s role in this space and serves as an important starting point for the Digital Task Force for Planning’s efforts to support the planning and development sectors