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If you’ve ever had a planning application returned as invalid because of a missing or incorrectly attached CIL Additional Information form, this update is for you.
From Thursday 6th August, we’re changing the way Community Infrastructure Levy information is collected through the Planning Portal. The short version: you will no longer need to find, fill in, and upload a separate CIL form alongside your application. It will be built into the application journey itself.
Read more…Nine years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, the Building Control Independent Panel led by Dame Judith Hackitt has delivered a clear assessment: despite significant progress since 2017, the current system still has structural weaknesses that prevent it from delivering the independent, consistent and proactive assurance the public has a right to expect.
The panel’s recommendations point towards fewer, larger and more independent building control bodies, alongside stronger national oversight. But there is another recommendation that deserves equal attention: the need for a stronger digital backbone, underpinned by clear data standards, interoperability and visible accountability.
In our view, this is not simply a supporting recommendation. It is the foundation on which the wider reforms will depend.
Cliciwch yma i ddarllen y diweddariad hwn yn Gymraeg/Click here to read this update in Welsh
Submitting planning applications often means managing large document sets, tight deadlines, and local validation requirements – all while ensuring nothing gets missed along the way.
That’s why, from 12 August, we’re introducing a series of improvements to document management on Planning Portal, designed to make the submission process faster and clearer for professionals using the platform regularly.
Shaped by direct user feedback, these updates focus on reducing friction across key stages of the workflow, from uploading and tagging documents to managing validation requirements more efficiently.
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At Planning Portal, we’re committed to making the Building Control application process as clear, consistent and straightforward as possible. By listening to feedback from users and Building Control Bodies, and keeping pace with changes to legislation and guidance, we continually review and improve our services to ensure they meet the needs of everyone using them. As part of this ongoing work, we’ve reviewed how building heights are referenced and requested within Building Control applications in England
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Following the NPPF consultation and subsequent Government announcements, Government has confirmed changes to the exemption options for developments that would otherwise be required to meet the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) condition.
We are updating Planning Portal to reflect these changes and ensure applicants have access to the latest information when completing their planning applications. The changes, which are set out in legislation, will affect how certain developments are assessed for BNG requirements.
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Planning application activity picked up in June 2026, with 48,958 applications submitted during the month. This represents a 14% increase compared with May 2026, although the number of applications was 1% lower than in June 2025.
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Housing sector calls for stability on housing policy after Starmer resignation
Housing sector leaders have called for stability and continued focus on housing delivery following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as prime minister.
Sir Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as prime minister, saying a new Labour leader would be in place before parliament returns in September if a leadership contest is held.
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Enfield withdraws support for 21,000 home new town proposal
Enfield Council has withdrawn support for proposals to deliver 21,000 new homes at Crews Hill and Chase Park in north London.
The project was selected for the government’s new towns programme in March, alongside six other locations across England.
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Recent discussions across the planning sector have reignited an important conversation about the future of digital planning.
Much of that debate has focused on technology, user experience and how planning applications should be submitted in an increasingly digital world. These are important discussions to have. Innovation is essential if we are to improve efficiency, support local authorities and help deliver the homes and infrastructure the country needs.
However, focusing solely on forms, documents or user interfaces risks overlooking a much bigger question:
What does modern planning infrastructure actually need to do?
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Planning Portal Blog 