New Forest residents and businesses to benefit from improved digital planning services
27 February 2024
We have successfully bid to receive £100,000 in funding from the government to improve our digital planning processes.
The funding will help us to improve the tools that are used to digitally map data across the district, which will provide residents and businesses with the most up to date and relevant information when using key online planning services.
These planning services include searching for the location of planning applications, viewing the locations of trees with Tree Preservation Orders, finding the location of listed buildings, and identifying conservation areas.
Cllr Derek Tipp, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economy, said: "We're grateful that we have been awarded this funding from the government, which will support us in achieving our aims of delivering an excellent and modernised planning service. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that these improvements will have on our district's development."
We will be using the funding to review our current planning processes and create an action plan for digital improvements. This will include implementing better technology, new software, staff training opportunities, and identifying ways to improve user accessibility.
We are also creating a new community consultation platform, which will feature interactive methods of engagement and aim to improve community involvement when developing their Local Plan.
Residents can find out more about our planning service at https://newforest.gov.uk/planning
More information:
New Forest District Council has received £100,000 in funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities from its Digital Planning Improvement Fund.
The funding will support preparatory steps so that Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) can take advantage of digital service improvements, prepare for forthcoming legislation, and begin collaborating with other LPAs, technology providers and the DLUHC on nationally significant software and data projects.
As part of this project, New Forest District Council has signed the Local Digital Declaration: https://www.localdigital.gov.uk/declaration
The declaration, with 296 signatories, affirms the collective ambition for local public services in the internet age, and the commitment to realising it. It commits to working on a new scale, to:
- design services that best meet the needs of citizens
- challenge the technology market to offer the flexible tools and services we need
- protect citizens' privacy and security
- deliver better value for money
You can find out more about the fund on the GOV.UK website: https://www.localdigital.gov.uk/digital-planning/funding
Details about New Forest District Council's Local Plan can be found on their website: https://newforest.gov.uk/article/1170/Local-Development-Scheme
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