Householder planning applications are going digital as part of a drive by Be First to make the planning process more accessible and transparent.
Thanks to a successful bid to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities PropTech Engagement Fund, over £100,000 will be ploughed into digital tools to improve public engagement in the planning process.
The digital roll out will include:
• Development of an app to digitalise householder applications, creating 3D visualisation of the development proposal which will be stored as a video experience on the planning portal; and,
• Creation of QR codes on application notices to provide the public with easier access to planning application information.
Caroline Harper, Chief Planning Director for Be First said: “This is truly an exciting project. It can be really challenging to imagine how a householder extension might look based on technical drawings and descriptive words. We want to make this easier by using technology to create 3D images of what is being proposed. PlanTech is happening and we in Barking and Dagenham have so many ideas as to how we use it, so that the people living and working in the Borough are able to more easily engage with the planning and development process.”
The project runs from now until March, after which Be First hopes to be able to roll out a working app. Watch out for further press releases as we will be looking for people to help us in the testing and development phases.
