Publishing planning data on your website
These pages show four example patterns for how a local planning authority can publish planning data on their website.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) publishes data specifications that set out the fields and formats local planning authorities should use when publishing planning datasets. These patterns show how that data can then be presented to the public.
The first three patterns are illustrated using Article 4 Directions as the example dataset. The fourth shows how a more complex group of related datasets can be presented together, using Local Plans as the example. All patterns can be applied to other planning datasets your authority publishes.
The four patterns
All on one page
All records are shown on a single page. Each record has its own section with an anchor link in a table of contents at the top.
Best when you have a small number of records (fewer than 10) and users are likely to want to browse all of them at once.
One per page
An index page lists all records with links to individual pages, one for each record containing the full detail.
Best when each record has significant detail, or users are likely to search for a specific record by name or location.
Using a finder
A filterable, searchable table allows users to find records by area, type, or date. This example also shows pagination for larger datasets.
Best when you have a large number of records, or users need to filter by location, type, or date to find what they need.
Complex datasets
A richer page showing how multiple related datasets can be presented together, with tabbed navigation, a timetable visualisation, and open data downloads. Uses Local Plans (plan and plan-timetable datasets) as the example.
Best when a topic spans several related datasets that users need to understand together, and where the relationships between the data matter as much as the individual records.
About the examples
The first three patterns use Article 4 Direction data for the fictional West Brackenfield District Council, following the Article 4 Direction data specification published by MHCLG. Article 4 Directions make a good illustration because they vary in complexity, have clear geographic boundaries, and are a dataset many LPAs already publish in some form.
The complex datasets example uses Local Plans data for the same fictional authority, covering the plan and plan-timetable specifications. This shows how a topic that spans multiple related datasets can be presented in a coherent, useful way for the public.
| Reference | Name | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
WBDC-A4D-001 |
Brackenfield Old Town | 14 March 2019 |
WBDC-A4D-002 |
Fenwick Road | 22 July 2021 |
WBDC-A4D-003 |
Stonemoor Lane | 5 November 2018 |
WBDC-A4D-004 |
Holt Green | 9 February 2023 |
WBDC-A4D-005 |
Thornwick Business Park | 17 September 2020 |
WBDC-A4D-006 |
Millgate Riverside | 30 May 2022 |
| Dataset | Description |
|---|---|
plan |
Adopted, emerging, and superseded development plan documents for West Brackenfield |
plan-timetable |
Key stages for the preparation of each development plan document, including confirmed and planned dates |
All data published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.