Slack is the main communication tool used across the ODP programme. All of the council and delivery partners are in the workspace.
Slack operates through ‘channels’ which you can find by navigating to the left side panel and clicking on Channels, then Manage, then Browse channels.
You’re likely to end up in a lot of channels. You can sort them into groups to make them more manageable. We recommend sorting them into the groups we’ve used on this page. Here’s guidance on how to organise your Slack channels.
You’re encouraged to engage, network and contribute to discussion across the platform. We try and keep all channels open and operate an ‘open door policy’ so you can reach out to anyone.
Channels you can join
General channels
#all-lpa-general: Workspace-wide announcements and a place for all LPAs to interact.
#odp-social: The place to share interesting things unrelated to work!
Support channels
#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 and get support from the MHCLG Planning Data Team and other experienced LPAs.
#help-contract-support: A place for LPAs needing contract / commercial support.
#help-product-support: The go-to channel to report any issues with Plan X or BOPS that disrupted your ability to use a feature or complete a service while testing.
ODP product channels
#odp-product-general: A space for LPA's co-designing or adopting ODP Products to interact with local authorities on the same journey.
#odp-product-stand-up: The place to capture notes and apologies from the daily standup for ODP Product Teams.
#odp-product-month-note: The space to read updates from OPD technology products such as PlanX, BOPS and Digital Site Notice.
#odp-product-show-and-tell-questions: For sharing Show and Tell documents, questions, and answers for ODP Product Show and Tell sessions.
PlanX channels
#planx-updates: A place to get your get your PlanX questions answered, collaborate with other councils using Plan and receive and keep track of new product features and service updates on PlanX.
#planx-product-group: A space where we talk all things roadmap, Roadmap Day and early-testing of new features!
#planx-delivery-group: A channel for everyone who is actively involved in researching, building, testing and improving digital planning services using PlanX. The channel will be used by multiple service teams.
BOPS channels
#bops-updates: A place to find out about BOPS progress, get updates and engage with the BOPS Teams.
#bops-delivery-group: A space for the BOPS working group delivery team to chat and share information.
#bops-product-group:
#bops-user-research: A space to discuss user research and testing for BoPS. We will review findings, take suggestions for research and plan recruitment for testing.
Digital Site Notice channels
#dsn-updates: The space to find resources and chat around the DSN project. Come here to find info, updates, announcements and ask questions of the team and engage with the wider ODP community.
#dsn-project-team: A channel for the project team with active involvement in the project.
Development Team channels
#dev-comms: General discussion about the development and technical aspects of Plan✕
#dev-errors: Logging technical software errors
#dev-maps: A channel used by a working group who are developing a shared map component
#dev-planx-deployments: Tracking Plan✕ deployments
#dev-uniform-integration: Discussing the integration between Plan✕ and Uniform
Digital Planning Improvement channels
#digital-planning-improvement-general: A space for LPA's in the Digital Planning Improvement Fund to interact with local authorities on the same journey.
#digital-planning-improvement-month-notes: The space to read updates from LPAs about their progress on their digital improvement journey.
#digital-planning-improvement-cohort-3: This space is for LPAs who joined the DPIF in March 2025.
#digital-planning-improvement-cohort-4_1: This is space for LPAs who joined DPIF in September 2025.
Working group channels
#working-group-metrics: The place for all conversations relating to Metrics and Monitoring & Evaluation. People doing the delivery function for their council are most likely to be involved here
#working-group-community: A place where the community working group plan and manage community activities, and share information
#working-group-planning-data: A place for MHCLG Planning Data Team and LPAs to design, test and iterate new data standards and guidance for LPAs to enable faster adoption of new standards across the system.
#working-group-conditions: All things related to planning conditions as part of the planning process.
#working-group-service-prior-approval: A channel to organise how we should work, including strategy, phasing and workshops
#working-group-service-report-a-breach: A channel to discuss all things in relation to ‘reporting a planning breach’