TerraQuest to provide Planning Portal services across Wales under new agreement with Welsh Government

TerraQuest will provide its Planning Portal service for planning applications in Wales from 31 March 2025, following an agreement with the Welsh Government. 

The launch of Planning Portal, which is already used for more than 97% of planning applications across England, will enable applicants to submit applications and receive vital updates in respect of Welsh sites.  

The new service will be bi-lingual, offering both Welsh and English language options. Current users of Planning Applications Wales will be able to keep the same account and transfer to the new service. 

Applicants will benefit from an improved service, including standardised payment options across all 25 Welsh authorities which, in turn, will streamline application submissions and address a key cause of invalidations. 

In addition, Planning Portal will offer a built-in location plan tool that generates compliant plans, captures spatial data and transfers digitally to the Welsh authorities – reducing reliance on third-party tools. 

The new portal will also ease the process for developers operating in both England and Wales, with a uniform experience across both countries. 

It is anticipated that additional features will be added, including integration with building control applications, enabling a comprehensive service from a single platform. 

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans said: “We said we wanted to streamline the planning process in Wales and speed up the decision-making process on important projects and that’s exactly what we are doing. This seamless transition to a trusted provider and partner will help ensure consistency and speed across the planning process and provide continuity for applicants.”

Geoff Keal, CEO at TerraQuest added: “We will deliver both a seamless transition and an enhanced user experience for customers. Planning Portal is a tried and tested planning tool that offers a highly efficient service that has helped thousands of consumers navigate and keep up-to-speed with the progress of their applications. We look forward to working with the Welsh Government and new customers in Wales.” 

Notes to editor:

TerraQuest delivers high-quality technology and data products plus professional services designed services designed for local councils, developers, housing associations, architects, and other professional services. With a skilled workforce of more than 200 employees, it drives economic growth by powering land, property, and infrastructure.

Working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, TerraQuest is the company behind Planning Portal – the national planning application service for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Planning Portal has been revolutionising the planning process for both public and private sector stakeholders for more than twenty years.  

TerraQuest’s market-leading services support major regeneration across the UK. This extensive experience spanning five decades allows it to offer expert guidance on industry best practices. This distinctive position allows TerraQuest to provide unparalleled insight into proposed development data and assist businesses in identifying opportunities and trends. For more information, please visit: www.terraquest.co.uk.