Background to the London Development Database

The Greater London Authority (GLA) working with software developers Creative Database Projects have launched the new London Development Database (LDD). The system is designed to record the progress of planning permissions in the Greater London area as part of the process of monitoring the Spatial Development Strategy contained in London Plan. LDD replaces the London Development Monitoring System (LDMS), which has been recording major planning applications in London since 1989.

LDD contains information on all planning permissions granted in London since 1 April 2004 that propose:

a loss or gain or new build of any residential units,
10 new bedrooms for hotels, hostels or residential homes,
1,000m² of new floor space in any other use class,
a loss or gain of open space.

Although the data specification used LDMS as a basis for the new database, retaining most of its fields, a considerable number of new fields, mostly residential, have been added including ones on bedroom size, tenure and provider. In addition, a whole new section on the types of open space lost and gained, has been included.

All information is provided by the 33 London Boroughs but is stored on servers provided by the GLA, who also provide user training and support. Boroughs are able to upload and store permission information that does not meet the thresholds agreed with the GLA, creating a tool for their own monitoring purposes. Historical permission data from LDMS has been migrated to the new system.

Phase 1 went live in June 2004, allowing the online input and editing of planning permissions and progressing of information and a mechanism for importing data in bulk via a CSV file. Online inputting is simplified by the use of purpose-designed wizards to guide users through the process.
Phase 2 released in October 2004, includes GIS capabilities and a GIS polygon editing tool for defining site boundaries via the internet with no requirement for locally installed software.
Phase 3 went live in March 2005 bringing further improvements including a Superseding Wizard designed to avoid double counting and the inclusion of data from the presvious monitoring systems.
Phase 4 became operable in September 2005 providing the ability to run reports using the Business Objects Reporting Tool and a read only version of LDD for consultants.
Phase 5 released in December provides the Public Pages that allow citizens to view details of planning permissions and completions in any area of London either in the form of a map or a list. There will also be a read only version of LDD for consultants and relevant parties in central or local government.

Stakeholders, including the London boroughs, the Government Office for London (GOL), the Association of London Government (ALG) and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), have been fully involved in the design and implementation of the project through their membership of the LDD Project Group, and are kept up to date with new developments via a regular newsletter and at meetings/presentations organised by the GLA. LDD is fully compliant with all internet accessibility standards.

In addition to allowing the GLA to monitor targets set out in the London Plan, through the Annual Monitoring reports, LDD will provide the GLA and boroughs with a reporting tool to generate complex reports.

Public screens have been developed see www.london.gov.uk/ldd)to allow citizens to view details of planning permissions in any area of London either in the form of a map or list and for business to obtain single site and aggregated information using the reporting tool.

For more information either email paul.bowdage@london.gov.uk or phone 020 7983 4650.

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