Planning Intelligence Blog
Practical guides, data insights and product updates for UK planning professionals.
Platform Update: Flood Zone Accuracy Improvement — April 2026
We identified and fixed a flood zone false positive issue on LandLens in April 2026. This post explains the problem, the fix, and what it means for site assessments run on the platform.
How LandLens Verifies Flood Zone Data Using True Geometric Analysis
Most tools rely on bounding-box overlap to check flood risk — which can flag postcodes hundreds of metres from a flood zone. Here's why LandLens uses point-in-polygon verification instead, and what that means for your due diligence.
The 10 Most Planning-Constrained UK Postcodes — and What Makes Them Complex
We ran 10 UK postcodes through LandLens and recorded every active planning constraint — flood zones, conservation areas, listed buildings, AONBs, National Parks. Here is what the data reveals about constraint complexity.
Flood Map for Planning vs NaFRA2: What UK Property Professionals Need to Know in 2026
Two official Environment Agency flood datasets. Different risk bands, different methodologies — and they don't always agree. Here's what surveyors, developers and lenders need to know.
How to Check If a Site Falls Within a Conservation Area — The Definitive Guide
Conservation area designation affects everything from permitted development rights to demolition. Here's how to check any site in England using LandLens™ and official government data.
Brownfield Opportunities in the Thames Estuary: What the Data Shows
We analysed 2,400+ brownfield sites across Thurrock, Medway and Southend. Here are the key clusters, ownership patterns, and development potential the data reveals.
Flood Risk Due Diligence: What Most Developers Miss Before Exchanging
EA flood zones are just the starting point. We break down the full flood risk picture — pluvial, surface water, reservoir risk — and show how to layer them all before making an offer.
Article 4 Directions UK: What Every Planning Consultant Needs to Know in 2026
Article 4 directions silently remove permitted development rights — and missing one can torpedo a project. Here's how they work, where they apply, and how to check any site instantly.
UK Use Classes Explained: The Complete Guide After the 2020 Reforms
The 2020 Use Classes Order reforms collapsed nine classes into one. This guide explains every class from A1 to sui generis, what changed, and what it means for your next application.
How to Check Planning Constraints on Any UK Site — Without Paying for LandInsight
LandInsight costs up to £6,000/year. Here's how to check flood risk, conservation areas, listed buildings, TPOs and more — for free or at a fraction of the price.
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