Planning submissions often involve multiple documents, separate steps, and varying local requirements. A more structured workflow can help applicants understand what is needed earlier.
Newer platforms are designed around guided workflows and structured inputs, which can make it easier to understand what information is needed at submission. Is the UK’s planning system finally ready to move into the 21st century?
The Old Way: Paper-Based and Prone to Delay
The traditional planning process still relies heavily on paper-based workflows and manual checks. Many councils require officers to validate long documents by hand. This leads to a slow and error-prone system. A common issue in submissions is missing or inconsistent information, which can trigger requests for clarification during validation. Many traditional submission routes still rely on PDFs and separate documents, which can make it harder to catch gaps until late in the process. Applicants often find it hard to know what is required until they have been through the process at least once. Councils report high rates of invalid submissions. For many homeowners and developers, the process feels stuck in the past.Councils Are Looking for Something Better
Several local authorities have started to move away from the national portal. Camden Council introduced its own digital service for householder applications, with a more modern user interface and no additional service charge. Other councils like Lambeth and Southwark are testing systems that provide real-time validation and interactive guidance to reduce errors and speed up processing. These trials show that some councils and teams are exploring more structured digital workflows to improve how information is collected at the start of an application. They are turning to new platforms that are designed from the ground up for a faster and more accurate process.What Is UK Planning Gateway?
UK Planning Gateway is one of the new digital-first platforms leading this shift. It is part of a broader movement supported by the government and industry to make planning permission applications easier to prepare, with clearer prompts and more consistent information at submission. UK Planning Gateway builds on the work of several open digital planning tools, including PlanX, BOPS (Back Office Planning System), and RIPA (Reducing Invalid Planning Applications). These systems are designed to work together using shared standards, cloud-based infrastructure, and a focus on user experience. Applicants are guided through each step with clear questions, dynamic mapping tools, and automated document checks. Councils receive structured data instead of static files, allowing them to process applications more efficiently and with fewer errors.Designed for guided submissions and clearer inputs
The benefits of more structured, digital planning tools are starting to show up in live pilots.
MHCLG has published indicative results from Barnet’s end-to-end pilot (PlanX + BOPS + Digital Planning Register) showing the average end-to-end process for a Lawful Development Certificate took just over 30 minutes using the new tools, around an hour longer using the existing supplier software.
MHCLG also reports that some councils using the Open Digital Planning product suite are already cutting processing times by around 30% per application.
Earlier intervention is a core aim of PlanX (formerly the “Reducing Invalid Planning Applications” work): it guides applicants through only relevant questions and surfaces requirements earlier, helping reduce invalid or incomplete submissions.