Derby City Council has unveiled two innovative tools to transform the process of applying for planning permission in the city.

The new Digital Twin (a highly detailed 3D virtual map of the city), and Design Optimisation Service will help improve the quality of new developments and streamline the planning process.

Visualising new developments

The Digital Twin allows the Council to see exactly how a new building will look in the city centre before a brick is laid. It will be mandatory for all city centre planning applications that would affect the look and feel of the city, including tall and historically sensitive buildings.

Developers will have to provide a 3D model of their project, which will then be added to the virtual map to check its impact. Costs will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The model has been developed in collaboration with Digital Urban, an award-winning, local company specialising in developing and running digital twins.

Expert advice

The Design Optimisation Service is a hands-on, workshop-based service for everyone from homeowners to professional developers. These sessions are designed to spot potential issues and minimise delays in the planning process.

There will be two ways for applicants to use the service:

  • For large developments: Designers can get feedback on their overall vision, while the finer details are reviewed.
  • For existing applications: If any design issues arise, this service can get the project back on track with advice to help solve the problem.

While the advice given as part of DOS can’t guarantee planning approval, it does give a higher chance of a project being accepted.

Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services, said: 

I’m delighted to introduce these two, cutting-edge planning tools to the people of Derby. With these, we can offer a more streamlined planning process for residents and developers, while ensuring that new developments align with our vision for the city centre while respecting its heritage.

More information about these two new services can be found on the planning pages of the Derby City Council website.