How is AI changing planning decisions in London?
With growing pressure on building new homes, Artificial Intelligence is starting to reshape the planning system, with government-backed tools expected to save planning authorities around 250,000 hours of manual work each year.1
Also, nine in ten local planning authorities have reported receiving AI-generated planning submissions.2
Questions remain about how widely AI is being used, whether local authorities have the skills and resources to adopt it, what safeguards are needed to ensure transparency, accountability and public trust, and how to ensure that people and local communities remain at the heart of planning decisions.
Tomorrow, the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee will examine the opportunities and risks AI in planning presents, and what role the Greater London Authority should play in guiding its adoption.
The Committee will also explore the growing use of AI by members of the public in planning consultations.
The guests are:
Panel One:
- Professor Mike Raco, Head of School, UCL Bartlett School of Planning
- Professor Lauren Andres, Director of Research, UCL Bartlett School of Planning
- Nissa Shahid, Digital Lead for Town Planning, Arup
- Professor Samer Bagaeen, Head of Town Planning, University of the Built Environment, Built Environment Futures Assembly
Panel Two:
- Damiano Cerrone, Co-founder SPIN Unit and CoPlanAI
- Mike Kiely, Chair of Planning Officers Society
- Chris de Gruben, Head of Property, Artefact, Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
- Stewart Bailey, Founder and CEO, Virtual Viewing
The meeting will take place in the Chamber at City Hall on Thursday 1 October 2026 at 10am.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
Follow us @LondonAssembly.
Notes to editors
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. (2026). AI tool to slash planning decision times as government accelerates push to build 1.5 million homes
- Planning Voice. (2026). AI planning objections
- James Small-Edwards AM, Chair of the Planning and Regeneration Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Planning and Regeneration Committee
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Daniel Zikmund in the Assembly Media Office on 07860647577 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.