The Government has given Lambeth Council a cash boost of £350,000 to improve its planning application technology.  

Lambeth is one of six councils to receive money from the local digital fund, aimed at supporting digital projects that improve public services.   

This round the £1.2 million pot was divvied up between Lambeth, Southwark, Croydon, Greenwich, Buckinghamshire, and Barnsley – 23 projects have already received £2.5 million from the fund.   

The funding for Lambeth will go towards designing a system that can filter out incomplete or invalid planning applications.  

The council, which estimates that about 50 per cent of planning applications in London are invalid, has already developed a prototype and will now test it with users.  

It is working with Wycombe District Council, Southwark Council, Lewisham Council, and Camden Council on the project.  

Local Government Minister Simon Clarke MP said: “Digital technology has enormous potential to benefit society and improve our lives in countless ways and I am determined that councils harness its potential too. 

“That is why I have announced £1.2 million for councils to continue their work on truly innovative projects to improve public services for people across the country.” 

A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “This is an important project which seeks to make the planning application process simpler and less frustrating for our residents, so we welcome this additional funding.  

“At present we estimate that on average 50 per cent of planning applications in London are invalid upon receipt due to failure to meet published validation requirements.  

“The aim is to significantly reduce this figure by using new technologies that will make it easier for applicants to navigate the planning application process. 

“If successful it will allow councils to free up much needed resourcing, improve customer satisfaction and represent cost savings for both councils and applicants.”