The Planning Portal has launched a new building control service that will streamline the process of submitting online applications to LABC departments
A new online building control service will enable applications to be submitted directly to Local Authority Building Control (LABC) departments.
The Planning Portal was launched in 2002 with the aim of simplifying the planning and building control sector. It is a joint venture between the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and TerraQuest Ltd. Last week the organisation also revealed it had improved its online digital services to make it easier to submit planning applications. This included making the site mobile friendly and providing multi-language support.
Building control service
The Planning Portal launched the new building control service to support the 2,000 applications it processes each day. The organisation said some 8,857 applications had been attempted using postcodes to search for LABC departments that were not live on the system.
The site offers easy registration as well as the ability to buy location plans and upload supporting documents with applications. There is also an online help function and telephone support available for completing the applications.
Furthermore, the system keeps an online record of completed applications. It has a fee calculator to allow LABC departments to configure costs for each application type by category. It also enables joint ventures that involve multiple LABC departments to work on the same application.
To register an LABC visit the Planning Portal sign up page.
Trusted resource
Sarah Chilcott, MD of the Planning Portal said: “Our website has been the trusted resource for planning information and applications since 2002, and we’re delighted that the building control service has had such a positive reception among local authorities and the general public.
“We are always looking to improve and develop our services and are currently testing a facility that will support integration between our application service and the LABC back office systems.
“We are confident that this will result in considerable efficiencies for both LABC departments and their customers.”
