FAQs

The Validation Guide will be moving to a new format as on page web content.  Because of this all of the text has been reviewed to ensure it meets online accessibility standards. As all of the text has been updated we are consulting on the document as a whole instead of highlighting the amendments.

This consultation is not just about what has been changed. It also gives interested parties the opportunity to feedback on the document as a whole for example:

• Is enough information requested to consider the application?
• Is too much information requested which could be conditioned?
• Is there enough guidance to submit an application right first time?

Submitting comments via email is discouraged.  The survey has been set up to receive comments in a structured way making the consideration and review of comments more efficient.  The current guide is out of date and therefore there is an urgency to review, update and adopt the new guide as soon as possible.

Unfortunately we are unable to allow extensions of time to submit comments.  The current guide is out of date and therefore there is an urgency to review, update and adopt the new guide as soon as possible.

We have previously worked with Agile trialling AI on Householder applications. While it offered some benefits, and improvements were being made, we felt that it was not operating at a level that would provide the efficiencies we required. 

Things it could do:

• Identify the presence or absence of things like scale, scale bars and North points 

• Interpret proposed descriptions and look for specific types of plans required 

• Check red lines against the land registry database 

• Request relevant reports based on constraint data 

Things it couldn’t do:

• Plan discrepancies i.e missing windows, whether metric scale shown are correct 

• Whether a given scale bar is relevant to the metric scale(s) used on the plan 

• Struggled with hand-drawn submissions, handwriting and scanned documents. 

• Planning fees 

• Can check forms, e.g CIL, but cannot interpret whether forms have been completed correctly.

We are aware that submission platforms are developing AI as part of the submission process.  This may mean applications not reaching the local authority until requirements have been met. 

Yes, the PDF document being consulted on is for consultation purposes only.  Links have been added to help indicate how the information will potentially be displayed.

Once reviewed and content updated as necessary, the information will be made into web pages. This will mean the information can be navigated like a website by clicking the back button.