AI Tool Promises to Cut Planning Backlogs and Delays
The new AI assistant – Extract – enables old files, maps and notes to be transformed into accurate digital data in seconds…
The rise of AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a contentious subject, depending upon what industry you work within. While it may be entertaining social media users, who have enjoyed turning themselves into boxed action figures or creating images of their future children, many in the creative industries see it as a threat to how they earn a living.
However, the promise of one AI tool could modernise the planning system – with one simple aim, to quickly retrieve historical files and data and speed up the whole process – and support the government’s target to build 1.5 million homes during this Parliament.
Speaking at London Tech Week last month, the Prime Minister announced the launch of ‘Extract’ – an AI assistant for planning officers and local councils, developed by government with support from Google.
The current use of paper documents and scanned PDFs hinders the planning process, making it inefficient, with backlogs and wasted resources. It’s estimated that 250,000 estimated hours are spent by planning officers in the UK each year manually checking these documents. This new tool could dramatically reduce delays.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Digital Planning Programme is working with the government’s Incubator for AI (i.AI), part of the DSIT (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) on an AI tool that quickly creates higher-quality data.
With the help of the tool, old planning documents can be transformed into clear digital data in only 40 seconds. Handwritten notes, and even old, unclear maps can be digitised in seconds – a vast improvement on the 1-2 hours it can currently take planning staff to achieve any results.
Because the tool can call on information from thousands of files, it can create more accurate data, and in turn cut down on errors and delays. By default, this will free up planners’ time to focus on other planning needs.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “The UK’s planning system has been held back for too long by outdated paper documents, and slow processes, making it nearly impossible for councils to make informed decisions quickly.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we’re using the power of AI to transform sluggish systems so we can start to rebuild. With Extract, councils will have access to better quality data so they can move more quickly on planning decisions and get on with driving growth.
“Technology like this could be a vital step towards councils meeting targets to help build the 1.5 million new homes the country needs, all while updating and improving the planning system for the future.”
The technology is currently in testing mode and could be made available to councils later this year.
Paul Smith, from Milton Keynes-based Apex Planning Consultants says: “E-government has promised this type of benefit for years, however, if it is achievable, it will certainly speed things up, not just for local councils but applicants/planning consultants too. All too often I have to request that historical files are retrieved from council archives for review, which can take a few days or several weeks, because they must find the paper copies then scan and email them or upload them to their own planning portals.
“Other benefits might be that the current archived material can be organised and filed more efficiently, compiling approved and superseded drawings and reports, removing duplications, and placing reports into subject folders, meaning it is easier to conduct background research.”
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