The government has launched a new AI tool called ‘Extract’ to speed up the planning application process.
The AI assistant for planning officers and local councils, which was developed by the government with support from Google, will help councils convert decades-old, handwritten planning documents and maps into data in “minutes”.
It will also “power new types of planning software to slash the 250,000 estimated hours spent by planning officers each year manually checking these documents. This will dramatically reduce delays that have long plagued the system,” according to the government.
In test trials carried out across Hillingdon, Nuneaton & Bedworth and Exeter councils, Extract digitised planning records, including maps, in three minutes, compared to the one to two hours it typically takes to manually process these documents.
The government is now working with Google to develop and expand Extract to all local authorities in England by spring 2026 using the tech giant’s Gemini model.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “For too long, our outdated planning system has held back our country – slowing down the development of vital infrastructure and making it harder to get the homes we need built. This government is working hand in hand with business to change that. With Extract, we’re harnessing the power of AI to help planning officers cut red tape, speed up decisions, and unlock the new homes for hard working people as part of our Plan for Change. It’s a bold step forward in our mission to build 1.5 million more homes and deliver a planning system that’s fit for the 21st century.”
Deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner added: “From day one we made an unwavering promise to use every tool at our disposal to build the 1.5 million homes and vital infrastructure through our Plan for Change that our local communities desperately need. By using cutting-edge technology like Extract we can fix the broken planning system, cut delays, save money, and also reduce burdens on councils to help pave the way for the biggest building boom in a generation.”
Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, said: “We build our AI models to understand all types of information – from text to handwritten notes and technical drawings – so it’s really exciting to see the UK government choose Gemini to help speed up the planning process and support planners and people across the country.”
