Slack is the main communication tool used across the Open Digital Planning programme.
All of the LPA and delivery partners are within the workspace, and are encouraged to engage, network and contribute to discussion across the platform. It is kind of like Teams, but with people outside of your organisation on it too!
We use Slack for all internal communications to help you gather and share resources, as well as access the right support quickly.
By joining Slack, you’ll be able to connect with around 100 LPAs across England:
- Instant message your Community Manager for quick support when needed
- Instant message other LPAs to share questions, challenges and learnings
- Stay up to date on progress or changes across ODP
How to join
You’ll be invited to join via email. Use your LPA email address to create your account.
If you haven’t been invited, email DigitalPlanningTeam@communities.gov.uk to let us know and please fill out this form with the names and emails of additional team members who need access to Slack.
Every LPA is different, you might need to set up a google account with your council email address to access it - you can see how to do that here.
Where you are experiencing a local challenge with access to Slack due to your LPAs security and cyber configuration - you will need to log a ticket with your IT Team.
What to do once you’ve joined
- Fill in your details
- Add a profile picture so people can put a face to the name
- Add what LPA you work for and your role there next to your name
- Add yourself to the below channels to start
Join these channels first
#all-lpa-general: This channel is for announcements, general news and communications. All members are in this channel.
#ODP-social: The place for sharing everything non work related.
#digital-planning-improvement-general: Your go-to channel to interact with local authorities on the same journey as you. Your Community Manager will likely communicate through this channel too.
#digital-planning-improvement- cohort-3: For DPIF LPAs who joined in 2025. This is your space to interact with your cohort and ask your community managers questions.
#digital-planning-improvement-month-notes: The space to share your progress and month notes with the wider ODP Community.
#digital-planning-improvement-show-and-tell-questions: For show and tell documents, questions and answers.
#digital-planning-improvement-drop-in-questions: For digital improvement drop in questions, documents and answers.
#help-data-support: A place for LPAs who are identifying, cleaning and publishing new data standards to the planning.data.gov.uk platform to ask questions, share experience and get support from other LPAs.
#odp-product-month-notes: The space to learn more about the progress of work from councils co-designing and adopting planning software.
#proptech-month-notes: The space to learn more about the progress of work from councils working on proptech innovation projects.
How to use Slack
Explore more channels later
When you’re more comfortable with Slack, you can also start exploring more channels. Here’s our list of all the ODP channels and what they’re for Our Slack Channels