Rugby Borough Council lead the way in on-line planning with help from Innogistic

29 October 2007

On-line planning has taken a significant step forward at Rugby Borough Council thanks to software provided by Innogistic. Until now, members of the public applying for planning permission on-line have been required to fill out numerous electronic forms for different aspects of planning consent, in a process which was not only time consuming but confusing. This has now been replaced by a Standard Planning Application Form (known as 1APP), which simplifies the process, making the planning system clearer for planning professionals and citizens alike.

Software provided by Innogistic provides the crucial link between the Planning Portal (the national portal for submitting applications), and Rugby Borough Council's back office planning systems.

As Anna Rose, Head of Planning and Culture at Rugby explains:

"Using the Internet to submit planning applications on-line is becoming increasingly common. The introduction of the Standard Planning Application Form streamlines this whole process at the citizen's end. The work which we have done with Innogistic to integrate this into our back office planning systems is critical in ensuring that these efficiencies are maintained throughout the end to end process".

Whilst the introduction of 1APP does not become mandatory until April 2008, Rugby Borough Council and Innogistic have delivered significantly ahead of schedule. Anna Rose continues:

"With Innogistic's help, we have gone live 6 months ahead of 1APP becoming legislation. We are the first authority in Warwickshire to go-live, and believe that we are one of a small number nationwide who have taken this important step."

Dave Roberts, Managing Director at Innogistic adds:

"I would like to congratulate Rugby Borough Council on this significant development".