Government Launches AI Tool to Modernize UK’s Planning System
In a significant step toward modernising the UK’s housing and infrastructure landscape, the Government has unveiled Extract, a new AI-powered tool designed to transform the country’s outdated planning system. Announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer during London Tech Week, the tool promises to speed up planning permission processes and reduce delays that have long frustrated councils, developers, and communities.
Developed with support from Google, Extract is capable of scanning and digitising decades-old planning documents and maps in just minutes. In pilot trials with councils in Hillingdon, Nuneaton & Bedworth, and Exeter, the tool processed each record in just three minutes dramatically faster than the one to two hours usually needed by planning officers. With the ability to handle around 100 records a day, Extract could save local authorities thousands of hours each year.
The core aim of Extract is to free planning teams from time-consuming manual tasks by converting handwritten records into structured, digital data. This data can then be used by new planning software, paving the way for faster decision-making and more efficient service delivery. It’s part of a wider push to make the planning system more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of both communities and developers.
“For too long, our outdated planning system has been a brake on progress,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “With Extract, we’re using smart technology to cut red tape, unlock development, and help deliver the homes and infrastructure Britain needs. It’s a practical, forward-thinking solution to a problem that has held us back for decades.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner described Extract as a vital part of the Government’s Plan for Change, which includes a pledge to build 1.5 million new homes. “We’re using every tool at our disposal to get Britain building again,” she said. “By modernising how we plan and approve projects, we can deliver real results for local communities across the country.”
With a national rollout planned by Spring 2026, Extract represents a meaningful step toward a more modern, efficient, and people-focused planning system one that can keep pace with the demands of a growing population and a changing world.
