Southampton City Council awarded £125K for digital planning

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has announced that Southampton City Council will receive £125,000 to fund some 3D digital modelling of the city

Following Southampton City Council’s success in Round One of the PropTech Engagement Fund last year, the council’s Strategic Planning Team have been successful again in Round Two. The PropTech Engagement Fund was initially launched in August 2021. In October 2021, DLUHC announced 13 areas that received a share of £1.1 million in the first round of funding. A consultation to understand more about local views of the city using one of the tools procured from the PropTech Round One funding is open until Wednesday 6 April 2022. The topic areas covered are:

• Access and movement
• Environment and climate change
• Growth and investment
• Homes
• Place shaping

This second round of funding announced yesterday (Monday 21 March) aims to further accelerate the adoption of digital engagement tools by councils across the country, helping to increase community participation in shaping and regenerating places.

Over £3.25 million from Round 2 of the fund will be spent on 28 projects across England trailing cutting edge digital tools to make the planning system more open, engaging and accessible. For Southampton, this fund will largely be spent on digital 3D modelling of parts of the city which will support the next stage of public consultation on the council’s new Local Plan later this year.

Councillor Jeremy Moulton, Deputy Leader of Southampton City Council and Cabinet Member for Growth, said:

“It is fantastic news that we have yet again been successful in receiving funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities which will go towards the 3D digital modelling of Southampton.

“Now is an exciting time for people to get involved in ongoing consultation on the new Local Plan and really influence the future of the city. Southampton City Vision will be our new Local Plan and will set out the future for development across the city over the next 20 years and beyond. The 3D modelling of Southampton will not only provide better outcomes for community engagement but also create a legacy for Southampton that can be used for a wide range of planning needs, supporting the digital agenda.”

Modernising the planning system and using digital technology will help increase community participation in local decision making, including underrepresented groups such as children and young people and those from black and ethnic minority groups. By empowering communities and giving local people greater say in shaping their neighbourhoods, towns and cities in this way supports the government’s efforts to level up across the country.

Minister for Housing Rt Hon Stuart Andrew said: 

“We need a modernised planning system which fully embraces digital technology to create places in which people take real pride. 

“By bringing the planning system up to date with the latest methods, we are ensuring that communities can have more of a say on the development of their town, city or neighbourhood.”