About the Planning Portal

Following extensive user and stakeholder research, we introduce the location plan feature to the planning application service.

Also in 2023

• The second annual National Planning Conference was held in Birmingham. The event was a huge success and provided the foundation for interesting conversations, announcements and insight. 

A tremendous achievement from both Planning Portal and our colleagues at TerraQuest, we proudly unveiled our first fully in-house developed planning application system and guidance website, utilising the TerraQuest Keychain platform and reusable components. 

Also in 2022:

• Planning Portal celebrate and mark 20 years since the launch of the Planning Portal. Our parent company, TerraQuest Solutions¹ ltd, also mark their 50th year - what an achievement! 
• The new Planning Portal brand was introduced, a step change from our revisions of previous logos, for the first time we completely restyled for a cleaner, modern look and feel. All created by our in-house designers.
• The first National Planning Conference, hosted by Planning Portal and RTPI, takes place in Birmingham.

1. https://www.terraquest.co.uk/

Working in partnership with ten Northern Irish councils and the Department for Infrastructure.

Also in 2020:

• Launch of monthly planning Market Insight Reports. Our team began to analyse online application data and present monthly reports to our audiences.
• Planning Portal held second annual conference virtually, due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

The application service was updated to include 16 new Prior Approval form types.

Also in 2019:

• The first Planning Portal Conference held. We undertook the challenge of hosting our first ever annual conference in Birmingham, bringing together speakers, delegates, exhibitors and sponsors from across the industry.
• Enhancements made to the Nominate payment option. As a result of analysis and user feedback, we made some significant changes to improve the nominate payment option.

The new RTPI Directory offers an improved user experience and enriches a consultants listing.

Also in 2018

• Welsh Government's 'Planning Application Wales' is built and launched by the Planning Portal.
  After being selected to deliver the online application service for Wales, the Planning Portal team deliver a fully Welsh branded, bilingual application service.
• The Planning Portal streamlines the application process by launching an integrated payment system (FTS)
  After much research about application invalidation, the team work to deliver a value-added service to the online planning application service (1App) to help reduce payment delays.

This tool delivers compliant, low cost maps for planning and building control applications in minutes.

Also in 2017:

Our Payment ReDirect service is launched. A great number of Local Authorities sign up to the service, which allows clients to securely and easily pay for applications submitted by their agents.

The 1app system is also updated to meet user demand and the Portal is now receiving more than 2,000 applications every working day.

Also in 2016:

• The Interactive House is updated. The new versions no longer rely on Flash and are supported by the latest mobile and desktop devices, meaning many more people can now access the information and guidance.
• Planning Portal's building control online application service is launched. The Portal responds to requests from clients for a building control service to sit alongside the planning service.

A joint venture between the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and TerraQuest Solutions Ltd.

Also in 2015:

• The Planning Portal Blog receives half a million views, this has been achieved since it was launched in 2009.

A huge 80 per cent of all planning applications in England and Wales are now submitted online via the Planning Portal.

The Planning Portal reaches milestone of 500k visitors in April - 543,887 visitors making 1.2M visits to the site, averaging more than 40,000 visits a day

The Portal receives one million visits a month for the first time.

A hugely celebrated achievement for the Planning Portal Team.

The new website also meets government ambition that websites be public-private collaborations and receives more than 700,000 visits per month.

The Blog provides a platform for users to get involved with discussions on the latest developments on the Portal and with the planning sector as a whole.

Reducing the number of form variations from around 12,000 to one.

Also in 2008:

• The Interactive House is re-designed alongside and new Terrace tool, providing an interactive 3D view of our advice and guidance.
• The Planning Portal wins the Public Value Award, a coveted recognition.

The redesigned site better reflects new web standards and the growth of electronic application submission.

The Planning Portal is recognised for its highly original and easy to use navigation, as well as additional features designed to aid users.

The redesigned site better reflects new web standards and the growth of electronic application submission.

The Interactive House gives people a simple and visual route into planning guidance and advice.

This was a simple standard form which was made available to any local planning authority that wished to use it, it was not mandatory.

Introduced to provide an entry point to online planning information and allow planning applications in England and Wales to be submitted online.