Site development monitoring software systems - Public forum - Planning Advisory Service (PAS)

I use Access database which I had to set up myself.  At my former work we used a fantastic online software called cdpsmart and as the cost was increasing over the years we had to find alternative option to make savings so I set up Access database. At my current work I use Access because it does help to record everything plot level and you can set up queries to report on anything. Sadly Access is not supported by IT team at work (and it is the case for some authorities) however I continue to use it.

thanks Ian.  yes we used Access back in the day but you are right IT won't support it. 

I also use a couple of Access Databases, that work in league with data from Idox Uniform. And I also use Mapinfo to do geographic analysis and classification. Our IT department does not officially support Access but in the absence of any other options they do tend to help me when I have problems!

We currently use CDPSmart in North Northamptonshire, but are investigationg whether we can use the monitoring functions in Idox Uniform.  

Plot completions (or Temp Occupation Certificates Granted) are matched to UPRNs from our Address Gazetteer and exported from IDOX - UNI-form Building Standards module into an MS Access database (as a personal geodatabase). This is used with ArcMap for spatial analysis and reporting on completions by different geographies.

With move to ArcGIS Pro - I need to rebuild this so am interested in other approaches.

Same here - we have been using an Access database (again unsupported by ICT) for over 20 years.   Still to find an adequate successor, hoping maybe in time some of the investments taking place in other areas of open digital planning will find a solution for the monitoring aspect.  But for now, continuing with Access....

Helen Bagge:

What software are councils using to monitor the development of sites?  recording the site status (not started, under construction, complete) for every plot annually.  breakdown of house types, bedrooms, affordable housing, housing standards etc...     Interested to know recommendations and the not so good ones.  Thank you 

Hertfordshire use CDP Smart to monitor on behalf of the Districts and Boroughs, it's designed for that very purpose and the best monitoring tool I have seen

Hi Samantha,

I no longer head up the team, but I have just had a chat and colleagues would be happy to provide further details or even a demo. Feel free to email me on Ben.Bowles@Hertfordshire.gov.uk 

We've recently developed and released a Development Monitoring Tool which allows Local Planning Authorities working either individually or as a shared service (county, region etc).  It has been implemented at one home county local authority and is being rolled out to a number of others at the moment.  

It provides functionality to monitor residential, commercial and open space, with reporting tools built in and the ability to add custom fields.  It's fully hosted so no need to rely on IT services, and works on a mobile so no more clip boards on site. 

If you drop me an email at robin.barber@arcusglobal.com then I can arrange a call to show you it if you'd like?