PlanningHub joined the Geovation Accelerator Programme in March 2024. The programme, backed by HM Land Registry and Ordnance Survey, provides geospatial and PropTech start-ups with grant funding and 12 months of support, encouraging the innovative use of our data to benefit the property market, society and the economy.
Making planning decisions easier
Have you ever wondered whether a property could be extended before you buy it? Or perhaps been asked about planning permissions as a property professional?
Many people feel baffled when trying to understand planning rules and restrictions which can feel complex, fragmented and difficult to interpret.
That's exactly the challenge PlanningHub was created to solve - our goal is to make planning information easier to access and to act on.
The idea for PlanningHub came from my experience as an architect. Even for a simple householder project, answering questions such as Do I need planning permission? or What are my chances of getting approval? can involve searching multiple websites, interpreting complex planning rules and reviewing past planning decisions.
Creating a more transparent property market
So how does PlanningHub help exactly? We help people to understand a property's planning potential before investing significant time, money or professional fees.
We combine planning expertise with responsible artificial intelligence (AI) and trusted data sources to provide clear, property-specific planning information that people can understand and act on.
Our Householder Planning Permission Report examines the property’s location and project details and breaks down all the planning rules, restrictions, and past applications relevant to a property. Presented in an easy-to-read format, the report highlights key planning considerations, approved and rejected applications, and a checklist of documents needed for your planning application.
Helping buyers and homeowners make informed decisions
For someone buying a home, it helps answer questions such as whether an extension is likely to be possible and whether there are planning constraints that could affect future plans. It also gives buyers a clearer picture of a property's development potential before they exchange contracts.
For homeowners who already own a property, the report provides a clear starting point before investing in architects, designers or planning consultants. It highlights planning constraints, explains relevant policies and identifies similar planning applications nearby, helping people understand the planning context before taking the next step.
We also analyse planning activity around the property, giving users visibility of nearby developments that may influence future views, traffic, privacy or the overall enjoyment of their home.
How Geovation helped us grow
PlanningHub joined the Geovation Accelerator Programme in 2024 to accelerate the development of our products and learn from others transforming the property sector through technology. The programme gave us invaluable mentoring, industry connections and the opportunity to work closely with HM Land Registry and the wider PropTech community. It reinforced our belief that trusted public data can unlock practical solutions for everyday property decisions.
The role of HM Land Registry data
HM Land Registry data is fundamental to our products. Title information and indicative property boundaries provide the foundation for our reports. We combine this with planning, geographic and environmental datasets while also highlighting restrictive covenants (legal restrictions on a property) that may influence future development, something that is often overlooked during the property buying process. Together, these data sources allow us to present complex planning information in a way that is practical, trustworthy and relevant to a specific property.
Some of our successes
Our Householder Planning Permission Reports are now reaching thousands of homeowners and property buyers and are available through multiple platforms and partners.
Our customers include homeowners, developers, estate agents, conveyancers and local planning authorities, all of whom face the challenge of navigating planning information spread across multiple sources.
Since taking part in the Geovation Accelerator Programme, we have also been working with a number of local planning authorities, including Tower Hamlets, Enfield and Barking and Dagenham, in deploying digital technology and AI to improve planning processes.
What comes next
Looking ahead, we want buyers to be able to understand a property's development potential just as easily as they can check its energy rating or flood risk. We believe that giving people better planning intelligence earlier leads to better decisions, fewer surprises and a more transparent property market.
We welcome your comments about this blog in the comments below. Please note that we are unable to discuss individual cases through the comments section and would request that all such queries be directed to our Contact Us web form where you will receive a response as soon as possible.
Leave a comment