Nottingham City Council hopes to make the planning process easier to navigate by investing in 3D technology.
The council has secured £375,000 from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for computer technology that can map the city in three dimensions.
The project is part of a national £3.2 million scheme involving 27 local planning authorities launched to help the planning system more accountable and democratic using digital technology. Nottingham will work closely with Bradford Council on its particular pilot.
The council hopes will it eventually allow applicants, planning officers, councillors and the public to view accurate, real-life images of how a proposed development will look.
It could will make it easier for people to engage in the planning process; increase the transparency of decision-making; and speed up the time from application to formal decision.
The council has already been using some elements of 3D technology in the planning process but the funding will enable it to take that much further.
The city council is being helped by the University of Nottingham – through its strategic Digital Nottingham initiative – and the plan is for the tech to one day be rolled out around the country.
The university’s Projection Augmented Relief Model (PARM) brings maps and models to life and can be used to demonstrate how a new building or development would look and fit alongside the existing infrastructure.
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Council planning spokesman Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve secured this grant money and been chosen as one of a select number of councils to push forward use of exciting new technology to enhance the planning process.
“We have a proven track record of successfully delivering funding bids and we look forward to working with colleagues at Bradford on this innovative project.
“We’ve been using elements of 3D technology in Nottingham for a little while now, but this will enable us to enhance and improve the way it’s harnessed. Then we can share our findings with other councils around the country.
“One of the key things for me is using this new mapping capability to increase public involvement in consultations because this enables us, as the planning authority, to ultimately make decisions which are fully informed and take views from all sides.”
Paul Seddon, director of planning and regeneration at Nottingham City Council, said: “3D modelling is now an embedded and fundamental part of our assessment of the impact of major development proposals.
“It allows us to test and identify views of these developments and to accurately predict the impact of these, while we can more easily calculate site capacity and engage in negotiations over heights and floor space.
“It has enabled us to negotiate design improvements, while the ability to hold workshops with applicants around the model has been invaluable. It gives confidence to both planning officers and applicants about the appropriateness of a development and therefore the likelihood of planning approval being granted.
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“Proposals can be reviewed without significant costs being incurred by a prospective developer and while reducing the amount of time being spent by council officers. This provides best value and improves the efficiency of the process.
“3D analysis has become a crucial tool within our service and I look forward to improving its use even further over the coming months.”