Google DeepMind and UK Government Speed Up Building Permit Processing with AI

Google DeepMind and the UK government have announced a partnership to create an AI prototype aimed at speeding up the processing of planning applications. The goal is to reduce decision-making time for homeowners' applications by 50%, which should help in building 1.5 million new homes by 2029. The tool, built on the Gemini silicon model, will act as an assistant for planners by automating data collection, policy compliance analysis, summarising feedback, and drafting reports. However, the final decision remains with humans. The prototype is being developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, the company Faculty, and local authorities in Barnet, Dorset, and Camden. It is planned that from 2027, the tool will be available to all councils in the country. Previously, the Extract tool was successfully launched, which converts old documents into digital data; it is already used by more than 20 councils and saves approximately 255 hours of manual work per year.