End-to-end product pilot

We're running an end-to-end pilot to test Open Digital Planning products in real-world settings - a vital step towards building a planning system that’s more user-friendly, efficient, and transparent for applicants, planning teams, and citizens.

Our end-to-end pilot will test Open Digital Planning (ODP) products: PlanX, the Back Office Planning System (BOPS), and the Digital Planning Register. Five Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) are taking part: Barnet, Buckinghamshire, Camden, Lambeth, and Medway. The pilot runs until March 2025.

Why run this pilot?

We’re testing how these products work in real-world settings, from application submission to validation, decision-making, and publication. The goal is to modernise planning with a system that’s more user-friendly, efficient, and transparent for both applicants and council officers

Pilot timeline by Local Planning Authority

Here’s when each council goes live:

Barnet Council: Launched Lawful Development Certificates for selected agents in November 2024, expanding to all applicants by early 2025.
Buckinghamshire Council: Testing householder applications in three areas, launching January 2025.
London Borough of Camden: Householder applications live from November 2024, starting with planning agents.
London Borough of Lambeth: Testing householder applications, Lawful Development Certificates, and possibly conditions applications from December 2024.
Medway Council: Soft launch for planning agents in November 2024, expanding to all applicants in December 2024, pending accessibility checks.

What we’re testing

This pilot evaluates how the ODP product stack - PlanX, Back Office Planning System (BOPS), and Digital Planning Register - functions as a complete system, focusing on:

System readiness: Ensuring the products work as expected.
Performance comparison: Measuring the efficiency of the full ODP product stack for the first time versus existing systems.
User feedback: Gathering insights from applicants, agents, and planning teams as well as residents using the Digital Planning Register.
Impact assessment: Tracking improvements in resource use, user satisfaction, and decision turnaround times.
Engagement: Understanding how people interact with and engage with planning information in current systems compared to the new ones.

Why it matters

This is the first chance to see the real benefits of ODP products in action:

Saving time and resources for councils
Improving user satisfaction with easier-to-use services
Faster decisions for applicants

How it works

PlanX Submission Service: LPAs offer a simpler online process for submitting certain application types (e.g., householder planning applications).
BOPS: Applications are processed, consulted, and decided in the Back Office Planning System.
Digital Planning Register: Application information and decisions are published on the Digital Planning Register for public access and enabling residents engagement through comments.

How to get involved

If you are submitting a planning application in one of the pilot areas, try using PlanX. This user-friendly system makes applying simpler and more intuitive. By taking part, you'll play a key role in transforming digital planning services for the better.

Got a question?

Why get involved?

Influence the design of future planning tools with your feedback.
Be part of a faster, more efficient application process.
Help shape services that benefit applicants and planning teams alike.