The UK Government has launched a new AI tool, Extract, designed to dramatically accelerate the planning process by digitising decades of handwritten documents and maps. It is part of the government’s push to unlock housing delivery and support its milestone goal to build 1.5m homes.
Unveiled by the Prime Minister at London Tech Week, Extract is an AI assistant for planning officers and local councils, developed by government with support from Google. The technology can scan and convert hundreds of pages in seconds — slashing the estimated 250,000 hours spent annually by planning officers manually reviewing and checking documents.
“For too long, our outdated planning system has held back our country — slowing down the development of vital infrastructure and making it harder to get the homes we need built,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“This government is working hand in hand with business to change that. With Extract, we’re harnessing the power of AI to help planning officers cut red tape, speed up decisions, and unlock the new homes for hard-working people as part of our Plan for Change. It’s a bold step forward in our mission to build 1.5 million more homes and deliver a planning system that’s fit for the 21st century.”
In test trials across Hillingdon, Nuneaton & Bedworth, and Exeter, Extract digitised planning records and maps in under three minutes each, compared to the 1–2 hours required manually. Officials say this could enable the processing of around 100 planning records per day per authority.
“By using cutting-edge technology such as Extract we can fix the broken planning system, cut delays, save money, and also reduce burdens on councils to help pave the way for the biggest building boom in a generation,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner.
There are approximately 350,000 planning applications submitted annually in England — many still relying on paper documents hundreds of pages long. Once submitted, each application requires manual validation by council officers, a process Extract is designed to transform.
“The UK Planning System relies on paper-based processes, and AI can help to read and then extract the key information from it, to help both residents and planning officers,” said Matthew Wallbridge, chief operating officer at Hillingdon Council. “The productivity benefits will allow for a faster and cheaper service.”
Tom Shardlow, chief executive of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, added: “Just like many local authorities, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has many plans and documents in storage from historic planning applications over the years. Working with the Extract team, we have seen the outputs from Extract, and how these could improve our service, providing high quality, digital, GeoSpatial data and how this could speed up the process for our Planning Team.”
The government’s long-term ambition is to fully digitise the planning system, making it “faster, more transparent, and easier to navigate for working people, councils, businesses and developers”. Extract will be made available to all local authorities by Spring 2026, with plans to digitise all planning documents by the end of that year.
According to the government, councils currently spend £59.4m annually on digital planning and housing software. Wider digitisation, supported by tools like Extract, could deliver an estimated £527m in annual savings for the public sector.
“We build our AI models to understand all types of information — from text to handwritten notes and technical drawings — so it’s really exciting to see the UK government choose Gemini to help speed up the planning process and support planners and people across the country,” said Demis Hassabis, co-founder and chief executive of Google DeepMind.
In addition to scanning and interpreting planning documents, the government plans to make the data unlocked through Extract publicly accessible via gov.uk, enhancing transparency. It is also exploring further deployment options, including a potential app for instant document scanning.
The announcement is part of broader efforts to accelerate planning decisions, with 18 major decisions already made by Ministers since July — more than 85% of which were within the target timeframe. This includes approvals for nationally significant infrastructure projects, such as the expansion of London City Airport, a data centre in Buckinghamshire, and a new M&S store on Oxford Street.
The upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also play a central role, giving ministers the power to fast-track housing and critical infrastructure including wind farms, power stations, and major roads.
“This government is turning the page on the decline of the past and choosing growth,” the Prime Minister added.
Image Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner © Adam Vaughan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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