Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the launch of an innovative AI-powered tool named 'Extract' aimed at digitizing England's planning system to accelerate housebuilding.

In collaboration with Google, the government plans to enhance Extract's functionality to manage all types of planning documents by the end of 2026.

The AI tool, developed using Google DeepMind's Gemini model, is expected to enable councils to digitize planning documents in mere minutes by spring 2026.

Extract is designed to significantly reduce the time spent by planning officers on manual document checks, processing around 100 planning records daily, which could cut down hours of work to just minutes.

Initial trials of Extract at various councils demonstrated its capability to digitize planning records in just three minutes each.

The government anticipates that this technology will save thousands of hours for planning officers and reduce costs for local councils, addressing a backlog of approximately 350,000 planning submissions each year.

This initiative is part of a broader government strategy, the Plan for Change, which aims to tackle housing shortages through technological advancements.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner emphasized that Extract could reform the planning system, reduce delays and costs, and alleviate burdens on councils to support a significant building boom.

The data processed by Extract will be made publicly accessible on a government website, enhancing transparency in the planning system for local communities and developers.

The launch of Extract aligns with the government's introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which seeks to further expedite home and infrastructure construction.

Starmer reiterated the government's commitment to leveraging technology to improve public services and create a better future for families.

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, expressed enthusiasm about the potential of AI to enhance the planning process and support local authorities nationwide.