Project Overview
A UK PropTech company building planning application software for architects and developers needed to build an ...
Technology Stack
Compliance & Standards
The Challenge
A UK PropTech company building planning application software for architects and developers needed to build an automated pre-submission validator — checking planning application data against DLUHC Digital Planning Data Standards before submission to Local Planning Authorities (LPAs). The validator needed to integrate with the Planning Data API (DLUHC), check 40+ validation rules, provide plain-English feedback to applicants, and support DLUHC's ambition for fully digitised planning. Budget: £65,000.
Our Approach
DLUHC Planning Data API
- planning application data standard (PADS) validation, local authority reference data (planning authority boundaries, site allocations, conservation areas, listed buildings, flood risk), and constraint data retrieval per site.
- OS Maps API for site boundary geospatial validation (confirming polygon is in the declared LPA jurisdiction). 40+
Validation rule categories
- completeness (all required fields present), format (dates, coordinates, reference numbers in correct format), geospatial (site boundary in declared LPA, site area calculation within tolerance), consistency (total floor area ≤ total units × average dwelling size), and policy constraint (flagging conservation area, listed building, flood zone — for information, not blocking).
- Plain-
English Feedback
- Validation errors in plain English (targeting Flesch reading ease >
- 65): not "GEO_003: polygon exterior ring must be counter-clockwise" but "The site boundary drawing appears to be incorrect — the outer boundary should be drawn clockwise.
See guidance
[link]".
Each error includes
what is wrong, why it matters, and how to fix it.
DLUHC planning data ambition
all planning application data open and machine-readable.
Validator outputs
validated PADS-compliant JSON (for direct submission to LPA digital portal), CSV summary for planning agent records, and schema validation report for LPA technical teams.
The Results
Launched at 10 weeks, £58,000 — under budget.
Validation coverage: 43 rules implemented.
Average validation time: 4.2 seconds per application.
Completeness improvement: applications passing all 43 checks on first submission increased from 38% (manual preparation) to 91% (with validator).
DLUHC engaged the company in their digital planning pilot programme.
LPA rejection rate (invalid applications): down 67% in pilot authorities.
“Applications passing all checks first time went from 38% to 91%. That's 53 percentage points fewer applications going back to the architect for corrections before submission. DLUHC invited us into their digital planning pilot — they specifically cited the plain-English validation feedback as best practice." — CEO, UK PropTech Planning Software Company (name withheld)”
Project Details
Related Case Studies
View AllGovTech Service — Local Council Digital Transformation
GovTech Service — Local Council Digital Transformation. A UK local council needed to digitise three resident-facing services: planning application status tracking, council tax ...
GovTech API Integration — HMRC Making Tax Digital for Accountancy SaaS
A UK accountancy software startup needed to integrate with HMRC Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT as a software...
Open Data Platform — UK Local Government Digital Transformation
A consortium of three UK local authorities needed to build an open data platform to publish public sector data...
Ready to Transform Your Business?
Let's discuss how our technical expertise can help you achieve remarkable results.