Pinsent and Mason’s reports that the digitisation of the planning process in England has moved a step closer with the recent publication of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which included several proposals that will support the shift to digital planning

The Bill sets out measures to increase the use of high-quality data and digital services in the planning process – including powers to require compliance with data standards and to make planning data publicly available through an open licence.

The Bill also includes a new power to prescribe the use of specific types of planning data software appeasing local authorities frustrated by the non-readable PDFs currently in place.

However, while the Government has still to outline precise details of its “plans for transition”, it has said that “changes to planning procedures will begin to take place from 2024, once the Bill has Royal Assent and associated regulations and changes to national policy are in place”.

Many planning professionals are frustrated that the changes will not be implemented sooner.

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Pinsent and Mason’s - Levelling Up England: digital planning moves closer to reality