NewsStory

England opens £50,000 grants for councils to improve digital planning

KROV newsroom

12 Nov 2026, 8:12 pm IST1 min read

DiscussionThe story behind the news.

Illustration of a laptop with a stylized street map on a planning desk

Local planning authorities in England can now apply for £50,000 each to improve planning data and digital services, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said. The round is open to authorities that have received no previous funding from the Digital Planning Improvement Fund.

The ministry will assess whether applicants are ready to deliver the work. Successful authorities are expected to review their digital capacity, train staff and improve the planning datasets they publish.

Applications close at 2 p.m. UK time on December 14 under the timetable on the ministry’s guidance and application portal. The ministry expects to give applicants the outcome on January 28, with work starting in spring 2027.

Cover image is an AI-generated editorial illustration.

Sources and credits

Credit: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, via Local Digital. Crown copyright, Open Government Licence.

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