East Herts District Council has announced a clutch of digital and design projects backed by funding from central government to improve its planning processes.
Three of the projects will receive over £270,000 combined from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
They include a digital maturity self-assessment and the development of an action plan for using digital tools in the planning application process, backed by £100,000 from the Digital Planning Improvement Fund. This is aimed at making the processes easier for residents and planning staff and supporting sustainable growth across the district.
The second project – supported by £73,152 from the PropTech Innovation Fund – involves the council working with geospatial solutions company Cadcorp on a ‘Call for Sites’ platform and web map on which communities and developers could suggest sites for developments. This is aimed at saving resources in planning and simplifying the impact assessment of allocations.
A third project supported by DLUHC – with E100,000 from the Planning Skills Delivery Fund – involves the development of a district design code to preserve the character of communities and encourage sustainable design practices.
DfT collaboration
East Herts is also working with the Department for Transport on a pilot of a connectivity assessment tool to better understand the sustainability and accessibility of sites proposed for development. The tool will be used to map how easy it is to get to and from certain locations and to ensure sites that are well connected are promoted for development.
Cllr Vicky Glover-Ward, executive member for planning and growth, said: “I am pleased that the diligence of our dedicated and enthusiastic planning department has been recognised, and that we have been deservedly selected to take part in the Department for Transport’s connectivity tool pilot.
“Innovation in the delivery of our planning service, to work smarter and reduce administration, will better allow planners to concentrate on ensuring East Herts retains its characterful identity amidst development, in accordance with a district design code. Streamlining the planning application process and making it more effective for everybody involved will afford us greater engagement with communities and developers alike.
“This funding, and these projects, will support our service in achieving its goals.”
