Government picks Exeter to pilot AI housing fix

Exeter has been named one of three local authorities trialling a powerful new AI tool designed to speed up planning permissions and modernise public services.

The new system – called Extract – was unveiled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer during London Tech Week, as part of the Government’s wider Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes.

Developed by the Government with support from Google, Extract uses artificial intelligence to scan and convert historic planning records and maps into digital data in minutes – cutting down on the time spent manually checking documents and freeing up planning officers to focus on decision-making.

Exeter joins Hillingdon and Nuneaton & Bedworth councils as the first local authorities to pilot the tool.

“We are a forward-thinking and innovative city, and it is great to be recognised in this way at the highest level,” said Exeter City Council Leader Phil Bialyk. “Being part of this trial reinforces Exeter’s commitment to smarter, more efficient public services.”

Currently, over 350,000 planning applications are submitted each year in England, many still reliant on paper documents.

With Extract, tasks that typically take 1–2 hours – such as digitising historic maps – can be completed in just three minutes, potentially processing around 100 records a day.

The Government says the rollout could save councils and developers both time and money, while reducing delays and improving the transparency of the planning process. The system is expected to become available to all councils by Spring 2026.

Chief Executive of Exeter City Council Bindu Arjoon said: “The concept is really exciting and could transform the way planning departments work. We really want to be at the forefront of this advance.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it “a bold step forward” in modernising the planning system, “With Extract, we’re harnessing the power of AI to help planning officers cut red tape, speed up decisions, and unlock the new homes for hard-working people.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner added, “By using cutting-edge technology like Extract we can fix the broken planning system, cut delays, save money, and reduce burdens on councils.”

The announcement comes as part of the Government’s broader push to harness artificial intelligence in improving public services, boosting productivity, and driving national growth.