PlaceMaker is a digital local plan software that enables planners to assess development sites by integrating local and public datasets, simplifying geospatial analysis without requiring GIS expertise. The platform streamlines the local planning process by automating representation management and facilitating stakeholder engagement, addressing the challenges of housing shortages and inefficient planning practices.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Local authorities face challenges in efficiently assessing development sites due to reliance on manual processes, disparate data sources, and the need for specialized GIS expertise. This can lead to delays in local plan development and hinder effective stakeholder engagement.
Solution
PlaceMaker is a digital local plan software designed to streamline the planning process by integrating local and public datasets into a single platform. The software simplifies geospatial analysis, making it accessible to planners without requiring advanced GIS skills. PlaceMaker automates representation management, facilitates interactive stakeholder consultations, and enables data-driven decision-making for sustainable place-making. By providing scalable solutions, PlaceMaker empowers planners to understand their communities better and plan for a better world.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes local authorities, urban planners, and planning teams responsible for developing and implementing local plans.
Features
- Site Assessment tool to combine local authority data with public datasets for site identification and automated development scenario assessment
- Interactive Document Builder with drag-and-drop functionality and audience question blocks for creating consultation documents
- Representation Manager to collect and analyze feedback from various sources, including emails, PDFs, and interactive question responses
- Long-form text analysis tool to identify trends and sentiment across representations
- Integration with national datasets and support for uploading custom planning layers
- Hosting on the Government's G-Cloud 14 for secure and compliant data management