DEF Planning Portal Integration

Working with planning authorities, digital transformation programmes, and regulatory services, 6B provides end-to-end integration between the DEF Planning Portal and local authority systems such as IDOX Uniform, Agile Applications, Arcus Global, and custom-built case management platforms. Our integrations ensure that application data, documents, fees, and status updates flow reliably between the Portal and your internal systems.

As councils adopt digital planning strategies and look to modernise validation, application handling, and public engagement, Planning Portal integration plays a central role. 6B helps authorities unlock the full value of the DEF Planning Portal through secure, future-ready interoperability that reduces workloads and improves service transparency.

Understanding DEF Planning Portal Integration

The DEF (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) Planning Portal provides a national online gateway for submitting planning and building control applications. Applicants and agents use the Portal to upload forms, drawings, documents, and supporting information, while local authorities rely on accurate data transfer to manage cases efficiently.

However, without effective integration, planning teams must manually download files, re-enter information, or reconcile submissions, leading to delays, errors, and inconsistencies. Manual processes also make it difficult to track fees, validate applications, and maintain consistent communication with applicants.

Integration connects the DEF Planning Portal directly to back-office systems, ensuring seamless transfer of application data, plans, payments, validation details, fee information, and status updates. These integrations must comply with local authority governance, UK GDPR, digital planning standards, and operational processes for planning and building control.

6B supports councils in implementing secure, resilient, and maintainable integrations that respect vendor capabilities, reduce manual effort, and align with modern digital planning objectives.

Our DEF Planning Portal Integration Process

We begin with a structured discovery phase, working closely with planning officers, technical support teams, IT, and digital leads to understand your application handling workflows, validation processes, and current integrations. We review existing back-office platforms, manual processes, file-handling workflows, and Portal configuration.

Our architects design an integration approach that reflects your system architecture and vendor constraints. Depending on your requirements, this may involve API-led integration, secure file and data transfer, event-driven updates, standardised data mapping, or the use of an integration layer to ensure consistency across planning services.

During delivery, our engineers implement connectors, transformation pipelines, and supporting services that ensure application forms, supporting documents, metadata, fees, and reference numbers transfer reliably and accurately. We map data structures to match your back-office system’s requirements and align with national planning schema where applicable.

Extensive testing is carried out across full lifecycle scenarios, including application submission, validation, consultation, updates, and decision notice generation. After go-live, we provide detailed handover, documentation, and ongoing support through our managed service capability where required.

Benefits of DEF Planning Portal Integration

Integration automates the transfer of application forms, documents, and fees, reducing manual workload for planning teams and eliminating duplicate data entry.

Accurate, real-time updates improve validation processes, reduce delays, and support faster, clearer communication with applicants and agents.

Integrated data flows enhance transparency, enabling better online tracking, status updates, and coordination across planning, building control, and related services.

For councils, improved data quality supports statutory reporting, audit readiness, and more reliable planning intelligence. Over time, integration strengthens the foundation for digital planning transformation and more automated workflows.

For applicants and residents, integration leads to quicker acknowledgements, fewer errors, more consistent information, and a smoother digital experience.