AI is everywhere in planning right now, but that doesn’t make the planning system simpler. It makes getting it right first time more important than ever.
Here’s why a good planning consultant is increasingly a necessity in today’s system:
1) The system is speeding up and tightening up
From 1 April 2026, most Section 78 appeals for applications submitted on/after that date are expected to run through a Part 1 written reps route, where the Inspectorate will largely look at what the LPA had when it made its decision, meaning little/no opportunity to “fix it later” at appeal with new material. Planning is becoming more front-loaded: your application needs to be appeal-ready from day one.
2) LPAs are under-resourced, so clarity wins
When officers are juggling big caseloads, they’re less able to unpick vague proposals or chase missing detail. A clear, policy-led submission with the right drawings, reports and a coherent narrative is easier to assess, easier to recommend, and less likely to stall.
3) AI can draft. It can’t do planning judgement
AI can help with wording, but it can’t stand on site, understand local sensitivities, read the politics of a committee, or predict which consultees will be the pinch point. Real value is in strategy: what to submit, what to prioritise, and how to de-risk the decision.
4) The bar for evidence is higher (even for “simple” jobs)
Design expectations, technical constraints, neighbour impacts, heritage settings, highways, drainage, ecology/BNG, the list keeps growing. The difference between approval and refusal is often how well those issues are anticipated and dealt with before the application goes in.
5) The best outcomes come from shaping proposals, not just submitting them
Planning success is rarely about “filling in forms”. It’s about designing a scheme that officers can support, neighbours can live with, and policies can justify.
Bottom line:
In a faster, more digital, more evidence-led planning system, a planning consultant isn’t replaced by AI. They’re the person who turns a proposal into a decision-ready application.