London database to track planning

Public web site will give idea of capital's development

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has launched a public web site to give local councils, residents and property developers a greater understanding of planning in the capital.

The London Development Database (LDD) web site, which includes 48,000 planning records from 33 boroughs, will allow residents and property firms to see what building constructions have been approved in their area.

The system will also help public and commercial sector planners to get a better understanding of what developments are being permitted in each borough, to help with future plans.

By entering a postcode or using an interactive map, users can view details of expected building developments, as well as those already started or completed.

The public web site – which uses geographical information systems and reporting tools from Business Objects and MapInfo, linked to an Oracle spatial database – holds planning information from all London boroughs.

‘Navigating the planning system can be daunting, particularly in London,’ said Mayor of London Ken Livingstone. ‘This will really make a difference, both to individuals and professionals who want to know what is being proposed either where they live or in the capital generally.’

The system builds on a more in-depth, private web portal used by the GLA and local boroughs to help meet housing demands for an additional 750,000 people who are expected to be living in the capital by 2021 (Computing, 20 January 2004).

The internal LDD system, developed by IT supplier Creative Database Projects, includes extra spatial data, such as information about the London flood plain, public transport access, noise level and open spaces.

‘Each borough has housing targets and we can track their performance against this,’ said Debbie McMullen, programme manager for the GLA’s spatial development strategy. ‘We can also track open spaces and industrial sites, as we want to make sure new housing is built on old brownfield sites.’

The LDD is expected to reduce administration time for planning officials, who previously had to view paper-based records kept in each borough, says Alex Bax, GLA senior policy adviser for planning and development.

‘It will give us access to data on a real-time basis,’ he said.