North East Derbyshire District Council (NEDDC) has been successful in its bid to become one of only ten councils nationally that is involved in making planning services easier to use, particularly by using new technology.
NEDDC is helping develop the Reducing Invalid Planning Applications (RIPA) and Back Office Planning System, (BOPS) which are new digital products being developed collaboratively by a group of pioneering councils and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
The systems will make it easier to access and look at planning applications, opening up opportunities to improve the accessibility, transparency and efficiency of planning services.
Councils involved in the project will follow the principles of the Local Digital Declaration in their project work, to ensure that user needs come first and that the outputs are shared openly with other LPAs and can be reused elsewhere where possible.
North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Planning, Cllr Charlotte Cupit said, “Our council is always looking to use new technologies to help make things easier for our residents and businesses. We are delighted to be successful in being part of these innovative councils who are working together to ensure the planning system is transparent and as easy as possible to navigate and use.
“This project is an exciting one and will play a vital role in continuing to reforming our planning system and delivering more effective planning services.”