Waverley awarded £100,000 for innovative digital planning services

Waverley Borough Council has successfully secured £100,000 of Central Government funding to advance digital planning services in the borough.

The council submitted a detailed and comprehensive bid to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for a share of a new Digital Planning Programme. The funding will enable Waverley Borough Council to develop modern planning practices within planning data, digital capabilities, and management software.

By making digital service improvements, it will be easier for Waverley Borough Council to prepare for forthcoming legislation and begin collaborating with other local authorities, technology providers and DLUHC on software and data projects.

Building modern services for submitting and approving planning applications will speed up decision-making for both planning officers and applicants. Digital tools can also ensure Local Plans are simpler to produce and easier to understand, making them more accessible and quicker to adopt.

The Government aims to develop a dedicated online platform for sharing planning information across the country, allowing faster, more informed decision-making for central and local government that is based on up to date and easily accessible data.
 

Councillor Liz Townsend, Waverley Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development, said:

“Our planning team did a fantastic job with our bid, delivering a compelling case for funding support that clearly demonstrated our passion for shaping the future of local government planning services.

“This funding will enable us to be part of a digital community that is looking to integrate new technologies, pilot training initiatives and be at the forefront of digital planning practices.

“By making the most of technological innovations, we can lay the foundations for a modern, efficient planning service that makes it quicker and easier for our residents to engage with the council and have a say on the future of our borough.”

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