Smarter Planning – a one year report card
We launched our Smarter Planning initiative a year ago this week so I thought I’d bring you up to speed on the progress in the last 12 months.
Smarter Planning is a partnership between planning agents, local planning authorities and the Portal. It’s a recognition that the industry needs to work together to streamline and improve the planning process.
By pledging a commitment to the Smarter Planning scheme, participants will have access to free training, best practice guidance and advice from the Planning Portal.
In the last 12 months our account management team has been working with professionals and LPAs to help them improve their processes for online application submission.
As soon as they meet the criteria they are designated Smarter Planning Champions.
Planning professionals
Since last October, 212 planning and building professionals have met the criteria of the scheme and have been awarded Smarter Planning Champion status. All have received support and training and are reaping the benefits derived from electronic submission of planning applications.
The 212 breaks down like this:
- 56.7% are sole practitioners
- 32.5% are SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises)
- 10.8% large corporate users
More information about the professional scheme is available from the Smarter Planning page on the Portal. We also maintain and publish a list of practitioners and companies that have achieved Smarter Planning Champion status.
Local planning authorities
In the same time period we’ve awarded Smarter Planning status to 40 LPAs and are working with a further 62 to help them improve their business processes with electronic applications.
Again, if you want to learn more about becoming a Smarter Planning Champion you can find more information on the Portal and register your interest.
Planning Portal Blog 
Do councils follow any recommendations you post? Our local seems to be very ineffective when dealing with un-authorised sites in our area.
Reblogged this on Women in Planning – London and commented:
Interesting blog on electronic planning application submission.
No one has yet been able to explain to me why this scheme would give me any ‘edge’.
It’s more odd that LPAs should be given SP status, as it’s the agents who put the work in to make make the online submissions, the LPAs simply receive them from the Planning Portal.