UK Councils Trial Google AI for Planning Decisions

English councils will begin trials of a Google AI tool designed to accelerate planning decisions [2]. The AI assistant, named "Extract," will analyze project proposals and generate recommendations on whether applications should be granted or refused [2, 1]. This initiative aims to address significant delays and bureaucratic challenges that have long plagued the planning system in England [2].

Developed with government support and utilizing Google DeepMind's Gemini model, Extract is designed to digitize decades-old, handwritten planning documents and maps within minutes [1]. Traditionally, planning officers spend an estimated 250,000 hours annually manually checking these paper documents, some hundreds of pages long [1]. Test trials at Hillingdon, Nuneaton & Bedworth, and Exeter councils saw Extract digitize planning records, including maps, in three minutes, a process that typically takes one to two hours manually [1]. This increased efficiency could allow Extract to process around 100 planning records a day, significantly speeding up the process and freeing up thousands of hours for planning officers to focus on decision-making [1].

The government plans to make Extract available to all councils by Spring 2026, with the ambition to fully digitize the planning system by the end of 2026 [1]. This digital transformation is intended to help deliver the government's goal of building 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament [1]. The planning data unlocked by Extract will be uploaded to a publicly accessible gov.uk service page to ensure greater transparency [1].

The trials will be closely monitored to evaluate the AI tool's effectiveness and reliability, potentially setting a precedent for broader applications of artificial intelligence across various public service sectors [2]. If successful, this move could redefine how planning processes are conducted, with hopes for improved efficiency and outcomes for communities across England [2].