Google DeepMind: AI Tool for UK Planning Targets 50% Faster Decisions and 1.5 Million New Homes

Google DeepMind, the UK government, Google Cloud, and Faculty AI are developing an AI prototype to accelerate the processing of planning applications in the United Kingdom.

What does the tool aim to achieve?

The prototype targets 50% shorter decision times for planning applications. This directly supports the government’s goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029. Faster processing removes the administrative bottleneck that slows residential construction, and the AI serves as an aid to officials rather than a replacement for the decision itself.

Where are the biggest savings?

Householder applications account for nearly 70% of all annual applications, making this area the greatest savings opportunity. Each council is estimated to save approximately 255 hours per year on manual processing. This redirects capacity from low-value tasks to more complex cases requiring human judgment.

When will wider rollout follow?

The tool is currently being tested in three areas — Barnet, Camden, and Dorset — with a planned nationwide rollout to all UK councils during 2027. The project is an example of AI application in the public sector with a concrete, measurable time-saving metric.