Essex councils secure funding for digital planning tools

Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council, and Thurrock Council have secured funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s £2.4 million PropTech Innovation Fund. The allocation, part of the fund's sixth round, is intended to develop and test digital technologies to modernize the planning system and accelerate housing delivery across Greater Essex.

The project will be implemented in partnership with planning and design consultancy Prior + Partners, with Lancashire County Council serving as a testing partner. The digital tools aim to support the creation of a new Strategic Development Strategy (SDS) by improving data sharing, analysis, and visualization between local planning authorities.

In addition to technological development, the funding will cover the upskilling of council officers to ensure proficiency with the new digital tools. The initiative seeks to create a more efficient, transparent, and evidence-based planning process to support sustainable growth and infrastructure delivery.