A new initiative in England aims to revolutionize the way councils handle housing and infrastructure planning applications through the use of artificial intelligence. With the introduction of a system called Extract, the UK Government is tackling the inefficiencies of traditional planning processes, positioning local councils to make quicker and more informed decisions that could drastically impact economic growth.
As outlined by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his recent speech at London Tech Week, Extract has been developed by the UK Government’s AI Incubator team, which has harnessed Google’s Gemini model. This advanced technology streamlines the cumbersome task of processing vast amounts of planning documents, transforming them into easily accessible digital data. For small business owners, this means a potentially faster route to obtaining necessary permits and approvals.
Traditionally, the world of planning applications has been marred by extensive paperwork, requiring skilled professionals to wade through complex documents. On average, a planning professional may spend up to two hours converting a single document into usable data. With around 350,000 planning applications submitted in England every year, this bottleneck creates significant delays in decision-making. Extract promises to eliminate this hurdle by converting old planning documents—including maps and handwritten notes—into digital formats in a remarkable 40 seconds.
"The new generative AI tool will turn old planning documents… into clear, digital data,” the UK Government stated. This transformation not only enhances efficiency but also democratizes access to information, thereby alleviating workload pressures on councils and creating a streamlined planning process for citizens.
For small business owners, the implications of faster planning applications are massive. The ability to secure approvals for home improvements and other projects could become significantly swifter, allowing businesses to operate with greater agility. Furthermore, as councils adopt modern data and software, they can focus more time on strategic planning rather than administrative tasks. Extract’s beta testing is already underway with councils like Hillingdon, Westminster, Nuneaton and Bedworth, and Exeter, with the full rollout planned for Spring 2026.
From a technical standpoint, Extract leverages the sophisticated capabilities of Gemini via Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform. This approach enables the system to read and analyze complex documents, pulling out critical information from text, images, and even handwritten annotations. Gemini’s multimodal reasoning capabilities make it uniquely equipped to tackle these demanding analytical challenges.
Extract’s functionality relies on several key processes, notably polygon extraction and georeferencing. For instance, it can recognize shapes on a map based on contextual clues—identifying a red boundary around residential properties or shaded areas signifying public parks. Furthermore, by employing tools such as OpenCV and Ordnance Survey, Extract can pinpoint geographical coordinates, ensuring that planning constraints are accurately reflected.
While the potential benefits are encouraging, small business owners should also remain aware of the challenges that may arise with this new system. Transitioning to a digital-first approach may require changes in operational workflows within councils, and the learning curve for staff in adopting AI technologies should not be underestimated.
Notably, concerns about data privacy, cyber-security, and the overall reliability of AI in decision-making could serve as hurdles to widespread acceptance. However, with progressive governments recognizing the necessity of innovation, Extract stands at the forefront as a significant leap towards modernizing local governance.
As the UK embraces AI to enhance public services, the Extract system could mark a pivotal shift in how planning applications are processed. Small business owners should monitor these developments closely, as the impacts will reach far beyond local councils, potentially reshaping the landscape of housing and infrastructure approvals across the country.
For further details, you can view the original press release on Google’s blog here.
Image Via Gemini