PlanAssist expands to 12 more councils in England

Google DeepMind is expanding PlanAssist's beta to 12 more councils in England.

The Gemini-based tool helps planning officers assess householder applications. It checks documents, drawings, policy, and constraints such as tree preservation orders, then drafts a report with citations that an officer can edit.

Google reports that officers in the Barnet, Camden, and Dorset pilots spent 58% less time on householder assessment tasks on average. Officers still review the assessment and approve each decision.

The additional councils will join in stages during a 12-month beta. A wider rollout across England is planned for 2027 if testing succeeds.