Planning digitised: Creating Ireland’s first centralised online planning system

Planning applications were once a paper nightmare, differing across every local authority in Ireland. We helped transform this with the Local Government Ireland Planning System, a single digital hub that streamlines the process for 30 authorities and counting. This revolutionary collaborative project even won the ‘Most Collaborative Public Sector Project’ award!

Recognition

Introduction

The Local Government Online Planning website allows planning applications and planning submissions to be submitted to local authorities online. The website is developed and managed by the Local Government Management Agency on behalf of 31 local authorities. 

Online Planning is available in all local authorities, apart from Cork City, who are upgrading their planning systems and will be live once this is complete. In the meantime, Cork City continues to accept planning submissions directly to the local authority. 

Before the new Local Government Ireland Planning System was built, the process of submitting a planning application or a submission against one was heavily reliant on paperwork, forms and documents. Adding to the complexity, the specific requirements and systems varied significantly from one local authority to the next. 

This fragmented approach posed a considerable challenge, especially for professionals like architects, agents, or builders who often work across multiple local authority borders and might need to manage numerous applications simultaneously. 

They were forced to navigate differing, sometimes entirely paper-based, systems for each area. 

Challenges 

The primary challenge was to take this disparate, paper-heavy process and transform it into a unified, accessible and efficient digital service. 

This required: 

• Standardisation: Harmonising the planning application requirements and processes across local authorities in Ireland.
• Complexity management: Developing a system that could handle the intricate, conditional logic of planning forms, yet present an uncomplicated, intuitive user experience on the front end.
• Reducing errors: Creating an online system with built-in checks and balances to ensure all required fields and documents were submitted correctly, thereby reducing the number of applications returned due to missing or incomplete information.
• Collaboration: Working with a wide array of stakeholders, from central government to individual counties, to ensure the solution met the diverse needs of both the public and local authority staff. 

Our solution 

We collaborated with other key partners, including Provident CRM, who worked on the SugarCRM backend. The portal allows users to:

• Make and manage planning applications from start to finish.
• Make a submission or observation on an existing planning application.
• View or make submissions on Part 8 Schemes, which involve projects being progressed by a local authority. 

The platform's strength lies in its user experience (UX) and complex logic. Once logged in, users are guided through step-by-step forms that feel simple and intuitive. 

The system uses powerful conditional logic: if a user selects one option, the platform instantly directs them to the next relevant question, skipping all irrelevant steps. This dramatically simplifies what was previously an overwhelming process. 

The old system had many “failed“ applications because items were missed or completed incorrectly. With the digital system, each application can be checked at the point of submission to ensure the highest number of valid applications.

We transformed the original complex paper form by breaking it down into logical, easily navigable sections: place, proposal, people, supporting documents and payment. 

We also addressed the need for multiple payment gateways. Although each local authority uses its own payment system, the centralised platform automatically selects the correct gateway connected to the relevant local authority, making the final step seamless for the user. 

An easy-to-use dashboard allows agents, builders and the general public to access, manage and track the status of their applications 24/7. Users can also clone previous applications or save drafts until they are ready to submit. 

Impact 

The new Local Government Ireland Planning System has delivered a powerful impact, achieving its goals of modernisation, standardisation and efficiency, and earning industry recognition for its collaborative nature. 

Award-winning collaboration 

This project proved that effective digital transformation for the public sector can be achieved through strong partnership. In 2025, the Online Planning project won the ‘Most Collaborative Public Sector Project’ award at the Digital Transformation Awards. 

This honour reflects the extensive, six-year collaboration required to turn this vision into reality. 

Measurable efficiency gains 

The system delivered immediate, tangible results upon launch: 

• Swift digital adoption: As soon as the platform went live, 36% of total planning applications were submitted electronically. This immediately reduced the volume of work flowing through manual, paper-based systems by over a third. Today, over 70% of total planning applications are submitted electronically.
• Reduced rework: The built-in checks and balances, which ensure mandatory information is provided, have significantly reduced the number of incomplete applications that local authorities need to return to the applicant, accelerating the entire process.
• 24/7 access and management: Users gain round-the-clock access to their applications, allowing them to track progress and manage their planning needs at their convenience.
• A greener, more accessible service: The new platform provides profound benefits for both the public and the environment:
  • Paperless process: The move to digital submission has greatly reduced the environmental impact associated with the previous paper-heavy process.
  • One-stop shop: For the first time, users have a single, central place to submit applications across all participating local authorities (now 30 and growing).
  • Accessibility first: Accessibility was a core consideration from the outset. The critical application forms are fully accessible, ensuring all citizens can easily navigate the process, including those using assistive devices. 

Conclusion 

This was a trailblazing project: a first-of-its-kind, centralised online planning system for Ireland. Annertech was proud to deliver the front-facing, user-centric aspects of this award-winning platform. 

The online planning system is a powerful example of how digital transformation, powered by collaboration and user-focused design, can simplify complex government services, making them more efficient, accessible and environmentally friendly.