Case Study: ePlanning achieves a modern, efficient online planning system and major cost savings with Ordnance Survey

ePlanning - Customer Case Study

The Scottish Government launched the ePlanning Programme to modernise Scotland’s planning system, speed up decisions, strengthen community involvement and standardise processes across 33 planning authorities. To deliver a single online service for enquiries, applications, decisions and appeals it relied on Ordnance Survey for core mapping and addressing data (OS MasterMap Topography Layer, One Scotland Gazetteer, MiniScale and 1:25k/1:50k rasters) to support an accessible, map-driven submission platform.

Using Ordnance Survey data and the One Scotland Mapping Agreement, the ePlanning Scotland website (launched April 2009) provides standard forms, document upload, a fee calculator, map searches and electronic consultation to any planning authority. The Ordnance Survey-enabled solution has driven significant efficiencies and measurable impact: £7 million saved to date, estimated £45 million savings for applicants and £10 million for authorities over 10 years, average applicant savings of about £215 per online submission, and online submissions approaching 40% (versus a 12% target).

ePlanning

Jim Mackinnon

Scottish Government’s Chief Planner