AI vs Planning Permission: Will “Extract” Actually Speed Up London Renovations?

If your last planning application felt like it disappeared into a PDF black hole, you’re not alone. The UK is rolling out an AI tool called Extract that can read old, messy planning documents and maps, then turn them into usable digital data. The promise is faster council workflows and, eventually, quicker decisions for things like lofts, extensions and alterations.

The government says Extract will be available to all councils in England by Spring 2026 and is powered by Google DeepMind’s Gemini model. The aim: unlock decades of paper and scan-only records that slow everything down. See the announcement and technical detail on GOV.UK and the government digital blog: Gov.uk news release, 9 June 2025, Google’s explainer of how Gemini is used in Extract (Google blog), the MHCLG/DLUHC team’s technical post (Extract: Using AI to unlock historic planning data), and an overview on the UK’s AI project page (ai.gov.uk/projects/extract). Independent coverage and commentary include TechMonitor and Propertymark analysis (TechMonitor, Propertymark).

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What Extract actually does

• Digitises legacy records at speed
  Extract can scan hundreds of files and pull out shapes, boundaries and constraints from old maps and scans in seconds, not hours. The model uses visual reasoning to detect things like red line boundaries, then tools such as OpenCV, Ordnance Survey data and “Segment Anything” to extract usable geometry. See Google’s technical breakdown of the pipeline and examples of shape extraction.
  Sources: Gov.uk, Google blog.

• Builds a searchable dataset for planners
  Councils can replace “PDF archaeology” with structured data. That should reduce manual lookups, inconsistent interpretations and lost information.
  Sources: DLUHC digital blog, ai.gov.uk.

• Part of a wider digital planning push
  The rollout is staged, with trials already taking place and broader council access planned by Spring 2026.
  Sources: Gov.uk, Propertymark.

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What this could mean for London homeowners

• Fewer “where is that document?” delays
  Planners spend less time hunting for historic constraints or deciphering old maps. That could shorten the early admin phase before an officer can even consider your drawings.
  Sources: DLUHC digital blog.

• Clearer feedback
  Searchable constraints could make it easier to see what’s blocking your scheme and what fixes are needed. Expect more consistent reasoning, fewer cases of “we couldn’t locate the relevant policy layer.”

• Not a silver bullet for everything
  Extract doesn’t rewrite policy, conjure extra planning officers, or solve design quality. London’s capacity constraints and case complexity remain. Industry groups are already warning that wider reform is still needed alongside AI.
  Sources: Propertymark, TechMonitor.

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Limitations and risks to keep in mind

• Digitised ≠ decided
  Even if documents are instant to read, your proposal still needs judgement against local and London Plan policies. Complex designs, heritage constraints, daylight/sunlight, transport and neighbour impact still require human review.

• Coverage and consistency will vary at first
  Some boroughs will adopt faster than others. Early inconsistency is likely during rollout through 2026.
  Sources: Gov.uk.

• Garbage in, garbage out
  Extract can digitise a blurry map, but it can’t fix a poor application. Missing drawings, vague statements, or weak design will still stall progress.

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How to prepare your project to benefit from Extract

• Submit clean, complete packs
  Precise red-line boundaries, readable drawings, and clear statements will pair well with a system that’s finally searchable.

• Reference constraints
  If you know a conservation area/Article 4/Tree Preservation Order applies, call it out and show how your design responds.

• Plan earlier for timelines
  If parts of the pipeline speed up, bottlenecks may shift to design revisions, consultations or committee cycles. Build that into your schedule.

• Use early cost and design tools, then validate
  Lean on AI tools for ballpark estimates and visualisation, then sanity-check with real quotes and planning advice.

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Where Gable fits in

Gable helps you get ready before you even apply:

• WhatsApp-first brief + photos
  Turn your idea into a structured job brief that trades and designers can respond to quickly.

• AI-backed cost ranges (with London reality checks)
  Get a range for what similar jobs typically cost in London, including the usual add-ons (access, scaffold, party wall steps). It’s guidance, not a quote — then we line up vetted pros to give firm prices.

• Contractor matching
  Once you’re ready, we connect you with vetted local builders who understand London quirks and can advise on practical tweaks that keep planning and building control happier.

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FAQs

Will Extract replace planning officers?
No. It reduces grunt work so officers can focus on judgement and quality.
Sources: DLUHC digital blog.

Is this live now?
Trials are underway and the tool is set to be available to all councils in England by Spring 2026.
Sources: Gov.uk, Propertymark.

Will it guarantee faster approvals?
It should shorten the document-hunting stage. Your outcome still depends on design quality, policy, neighbours, and officer capacity.