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Faster planning decisions for extensions and loft conversions as AI tool tested in Camden and Barnet expands
New national rules mean straightforward applications are decided by planning officers instead of waiting for a committee, and an AI tool trialled in two London boroughs is being rolled out further.
The government says homeowners hoping to extend their homes or convert a loft could get planning decisions sooner under changes that started on Saturday 31 October.
Officers decide the simple cases
A new National Scheme of Delegation means straightforward applications are now decided by expert planning officers rather than waiting for a slot at a council planning committee. The government says this gives applicants more certainty and leaves councillors free to focus on the biggest developments. Householder applications make up nearly 70 per cent of all planning applications each year.
AI tool tested in London
The announcement also covers PlanAssist, an artificial intelligence tool that gathers an application, the relevant policies and site constraints in one place for trained officers to review. It was trialled by Camden and Barnet councils in London, along with Dorset. The government says early testing cut time spent on key planning tasks by 58 per cent and helped halve processing times for routine householder applications from eight weeks to four.
The tool will now be used by 15 councils for 12 months, and the government intends to offer it to every council in England by the end of 2027. It also says 420 extra planners have been recruited through government-backed schemes.
Photo: Brett Jordan on Pexels.
Source: GOV.UK (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) (2026-10-30). Checked 2026-11-02.
London Builders introduces homeowners to independent builders and does not carry out building work. This article is general information, not advice.