Some more service improvements – yes, more!
Last week I announced we will be introducing some key changes to the application service in the next couple of months (if you missed that you can catch up here).
However, I’m happy to tell you that before the main course we’re introducing a range of appetizers to further improve our application service. The first change went live last weekend, the other two will follow on 10th April.
South Downs National Park
This weekend we are pushing through the infrastructure and content changes to support the creation of the South Downs National Park.
From Monday you’ll be able to submit applications direct to South Downs NPA through the application service.
The live Portal site will be offline between 18:00 – 20:00 on 31st March to let our technical supplier deploy the required changes.
Following this change we’ll be introducing the following changes on 10th April.
Duplication of site address with applicant address details
The Portal’s registration process captures key information about the user that is used to pre-populate certain sections of the application form. This saves users’ time though not having to re-key information.
Although some information is already used to pre-populate the forms, we know there are other sections that could benefit from the same treatment. We’re starting with this change.
In most cases (for minor and other applications) the application site address is the same as the applicant’s address.
The site address is already pre-populated on the form as the user selects the appropriate address as part of the application chooser process.
We’re now adding an extra question (“Is the applicant(s) address the same as the site address?”), which means that from 11th April onwards, if you click ‘Yes’ the system will auto-populate the same information into the appropriate Applicant Details address.
Just a small change but you’ve told us that repeating information on forms is frustrating and eats up your valuable time.
Standard naming convention for supporting documents
I can also confirm that we’ll be introducing a standard naming convention for all supporting attachments submitted with Portal applications. Again, this is a change LPAs have long called for and will add much more clarity about what the supporting document is.
A future planned change will further help simplify the attachment process and help speed up uploading documents – I mentioned this in my previous post, but there’ll be more on this shortly.
As ever, if you have any questions about these changes please post them below and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Planning Portal Blog 
Yes, good moves in both cases.
How about standard naming conventions for Plan documents as well? This will open the door to automate the upload of documents into local authoirty document management systems, and would save us lots of labourious indexing time.
Kenton,
we’ve discussed this with some LPAs recently and found that there might be an appetite for some standardisation.
We’ve resolved to carry out some research and scoping once we’ve delivered the forthcoming changes.
I’ll publish the plan here so keep coming back.
Chris
awesome progress but we still wait for realism
Hi, could you elaborate please.
Realism in what?
Still waiting for the following:
1. A tick box to upload a drawing issue sheet listing all of the documents submitted.
This will cut down on all of the naming conventions.
2. A multiple upload facility up to 5Meg if not more. Most web sites accept 10Meg.
I requested this 2 to 3 years ago, but I am patient.
3. The Link to PINS and what they do is different to you – still not clear.
4. The changes are good for small extensions etc but for heavy weight
applications 1200 houses etc. it has a long way to go.
When I have stated that I am completing the form as an agent why does the system not put my name automatically into the certificates.
Why can’t I add two names to an application form? Alot of my clients like to be listed as Mr & Mrs or alternatively may be siblings. At present I write one in the name section and the other in the company section.
Hi Gideon,
we are aware of this problem and it’s on our list.
There are usually two applicants, both legal owners, and usually with different names (even if married), with many more variations of title than just ‘Mr &Mrs’.
It is important that both are listed as the applicants, so that Certificate A can be signed.
Please can you make adjustments so that each applicant can have their own name and title?
I have never understood why the documents attached contain a separate ‘location plan’. If the location plan is on the main drawing (which it often is) and the planning application info is all on the one sheet it is frustrating to have to load the document twice and call it something else to enable it to be loaded.
Any suggestions???