Planning Portal: More than a portal
At Planning Portal, we’re incredibly proud to be the national home of planning and building control across England and Wales.
But to us, this role is about far more than processing applications – it’s about being a consistent, reliable, and innovative partner to the entire development sector.
For more than 20 years, we’ve helped homeowners, developers, agents, and local authorities navigate planning with clarity, efficiency, and confidence. Now, we’re taking the opportunity to share a closer look at the work we do – to offer insight into how we keep the planning system moving, as your consistent partners in national planning.
Pioneering digital planning
We were the first to digitise planning in the UK, transforming what were once inconsistent, area-specific forms into a single, streamlined digital platform.
This innovation made planning applications simpler, more transparent, and more accessible – revolutionising the process for every user and establishing a new national standard. And, as the original creators of this service, we understand the fabric of digital planning better than anyone else.
“I’m proud that The Planning Portal has provided the user facing backbone for the development management process in England and Wales for 20 years, and I’ve been there to support its development all along.”
“My day-to-day work at the Planning Portal involves ensuring the service remains compliant by engaging with Government and stakeholders, monitoring policy and guidance changes, and making sure required updates are correctly specified, implemented, and communicated. I advise on digital transformation, provide insight, identify opportunities in sector initiatives, and respond to queries ranging from policy interpretation to strategic considerations and future-casting.” – James Garrett, Policy and Strategy Advisor, Planning Portal
How do we get from legislation to application?
From the outset to present day, we work closely with government to implement planning legislation in ways that are clear, accessible, and practical.
Our aim goes far beyond compliance. We develop bespoke, intelligent systems and clear guidance that help both applicants and local authorities not only understand their requirements but feel confident in fulfilling them – unifying national processes and maintaining consistent quality across the system. We’re the experts in interpreting and applying legislation to build compliant, user-friendly systems, always designed with the applicant at the heart.
“As a Policy Analyst at the Planning Portal, I track legislative and policy developments to keep our services, content, and guidance compliant and current. Day to day, that means staying across new consultations and understanding their impact on our service, or analysing planning data to uncover meaningful industry trends. I’m particularly proud of our in-depth reports – whether our quarterly index series or our deep dive into biodiversity net gain. Translating complex data into a clear, useful narrative for the industry is both professionally and personally rewarding.” – Seth Pierce, Policy Analyst, Planning Portal
How do we share our knowledge and guidance?
We are the trusted voice on planning rules and legislation, providing guidance that helps everyone, from first-time applicants to seasoned professionals understand legislation and make informed decisions.
Key resources include:
- Common projects – Simplifying everyday planning queries
- Interactive House – Explore permitted development visually
- Sustainability hub – Clear explainers of key sustainability legislation
- Planning guidance specialists – One-to-one expert advice for any project, offered over the phone
- Market Place – An integrated platform that connects professionals, homeowners, and SMEs with trusted trade experts across finance, technology, and consultancy.
How do we partner with local authorities?
We work with every council in the country offering them a free service with built in account management, ensuring the planning system works locally while maintaining national consistency.
Our platform is adaptable to each authority’s preferences, reducing workloads and delays through our payment handling facility and intuitive interfaces. We continually engage with councils via webinars, face to face workshops, and feedback sessions to refine and improve the service.
Our account management is genuinely personal. We build long-term relationships with local authorities, led by people who truly understand their challenges and are always just a phone call away when support is needed.
“I am most proud of our combined planning and building control platform. In a time where admin roadblocks can slow down progress and sap time, money and energy from those involved in the built environment, we have managed to give this back to applicants, RBCAs’ and local authorities.” – Matt Culley, Building Control Onboarding Manager at Planning Portal
How do we support professionals and SMEs?
Professional applicants and SMEs are at the heart of what we do, and we’ve introduced a range of practical features to help them work more efficiently.
One of the most significant recent enhancements is our Integrated Building Control Portal, which brings both fundamental built-environment application types together on a single platform for the first time. Professional users can now access both with one sign-on and seamlessly transfer application details between them.
We’ve also introduced:
In addition, we work closely with the RTPI to support key initiatives, including events, as well as hosting their live planning jobs board, and the directory of planning consultants.
We regularly attend agent forums, and we ensure our tools remain inclusive, accessible, and effective for all users.
“Change is the only constant, and there is always room for improvement. I love getting stuck into the detail, but also seeing the bigger picture that is formed from all the constituent parts and being able to provide clarity to a wide range of colleagues, users, and stakeholders in terms they understand.” – James Garret, Policy and Strategy Advisor, Planning Portal
How do we provide news, insights and valuable thought leadership?
We make it our mission to actively share industry news, trends, and insights across the built environment sector – providing a single, trusted source of truth for key narratives, including:
- Policy updates and legislative changes
- Key planning decisions and appeals
- Emerging technology and innovation
- Stories that bring planning to life
Through our news, reporting, partnerships, and events, we get to the heart of cross-sector challenges – bringing together vital voices to find solutions and promote best practice across housing, infrastructure, and sustainable development.
“It’s essential that we understand the priorities of the entire planning and development sector, because everything we do is designed around their needs. Our aim is to help every user make informed decisions by giving them clear, up-to-date information on the sector, the economy, legislation, and emerging priorities. We’re proud to be a trusted voice for industry news and trends, which is reflected in the size and loyalty of our weekly newsletter audience”. – Sapphire Plant, Communications Content Manager, TerraQuest & Planning Portal
How do we share and track industry trends?
We make our data publicly available through the Market Insight Reports and our Quarterly Planning Application Index, helping the sector understand trends, forecasts, and housing delivery metrics ahead of the government’s publications. By sharing this information openly, we strengthen the industry’s ability to plan, forecast, and deliver effectively.
“I wish people knew how much thought and effort goes into making things appear simple and effortless – whether that’s a short response to a query that stems from detailed policy analysis, or a system-wide change affecting every user and application that rolls out successfully. Lots of work goes on behind the scenes, and we’re proud to deliver a user-friendly, compliant and successful system that helps applicants across the country every day.” – James Garret, Policy and Strategy Advisor, Planning Portal
Planning Portal: More than a Portal
Powered by TerraQuest and delivered in partnership with every local authority, Planning Portal is the trusted digital gateway to the national planning system. We bridge the gap between policy and practice, providing clear guidance, innovative digital tools, and expert advice.
Our mission is simple: make planning simpler, more accessible, and more transparent. We empower homeowners, support professionals, and drive positive change across the built environment. We’re facilitators, connectors, and thought leaders, helping everyone from homeowners to developers navigate planning efficiently.
“Planning affects every home, every street and every community. Our role is to make the process clearer, more accessible and easier for everyone, no matter where they are on their journey.” – Geoffrey Keal, CEO, TerraQuest & Planning Portal
Where policy meets practice. Guidance you can trust. Simplicity with substance. Supportive and empowering. More than a Portal.
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