PlanX

Building a service

The PlanX Editor is a low-code interface that allows Local Planning Authorities to build digital services collaboratively. It includes predefined components and templates that local authorities can use to create both statutory and discretionary services as flowcharts.

The Editor allows planning authorities to manage the entire life-cycle of their services, from research and ideation to going live with them. Planning authorities also get access to real-time analytics, user feedback and a variety of customisation options.

PlanX works seamlessly with BOPS - the back-office planning system. When a submission is received via PlanX, the data can be sent to BOPS for validation, creating an integrated system that reduces the most common pain points for planners.

Be lazy like a fox

PlanX comes with built-in ‘flows’ such as General Permitted Development. If policy changes, your services will receive updates automatically. You’ll also be able to subscribe to shared services templates and copy flows written by other Local Planning Authorities - so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel!

Behind the scenes, the rules that PlanX uses are not powered by an unaccountable ‘AI’. Flows are created and controlled by planning authorities themselves as flowcharts. The Editor interface allows planning teams to continuously analyse and improve their services. This puts planners and policymakers in control, ensuring they get the data and the planning outcomes they want, whilst giving citizens the clarity they need.

Our most popular services

PlanX is being used by 16 Local Planning Authorities across England. Our most popular service - Find Out If You Need Planning Permission - allows homeowners and their agents to find out whether the work they want to do requires planning permission in the first place.


Finding an answer to that question usually requires hours or even days of research – it’s not easy to understand what application you need to send or what you need to apply for.
PlanX allows homeowners and agents to answer these questions in a few minutes. 

PlanX supports all statutory application types and allows planning authorities to provide additional discretionary services to their users. Some of the most common examples include ‘Apply for Pre-application advice’ and ‘Report a Planning Breach’, which guides users through a series of questions to ensure they report genuine planning violations, distinguishing them from permitted developments. 

Digital government done right

PlanX is being developed collaboratively with Local Planning Authorities within our community and provided as a digital service on a non-profit basis. The Local Digital Declaration defines a set of core principles for creating successful digital government services in a way that is flexible, interoperable, secure, focused on users and good value for public money. PlanX is built upon these same principles.