There is a Danish saying, made famous by Niels Bohr: “Never try to predict anything, especially the future”. Then there is the Prussian military adage: “No plan survives first contact with the enemy”. Planning is tough.

Especially in the UK, where every council prides itself on having created its own set of planning regulations (“design codes”). Technically, yes, there is a national policy. But if all UK counties were all the same, then they wouldn’t be different, would they?

Anyone involved in UK planning must navigate an intricate web of local planning codes—keeping up with ever-evolving regulations that require deep, specialized knowledge. That’s challenging enough, but for developers looking to build the same project—like a new type of eco-house—across different regions, the process becomes even more unpredictable. No two planning approvals are ever the same. And if a development crosses county lines? The complexity multiplies.

This was the motivation behind Dedoctive’s first product. We teamed up with DigitalUrban to create a tool that simplifies design codes, allowing you to ask questions—any questions—without the headache. Whether simple or technical, broad or highly detailed, in any language, the tool helps you get the answers you need, fast.

Today, Dedoctive’s CTO Peter Lawrence spoke about this at Public Sector AI Week 2025. Check out the recording of Peter’s talk here and for more information, take a look at the video demo here.

We’re on a mission to make information accessible to everyone. We started with design codes because the planning application process is notoriously complex—long overdue for a modern, streamlined approach—and the urgency for new housing in the UK, especially affordable homes, has never been greater. With the population set to grow from 67 million in 2021 to over 74 million by 2036, alongside an ageing demographic and rising first-time buyer age, the need for smarter, faster housing solutions is critical.

The next stage in our planning journey is to support developers and communities in the preparation and review of planning applications, ensuring that they align with modern community- and wellness-oriented placemaking. Find out more.

Author

Keith Harrison-Broninski is an author, researcher, and keynote speaker specialising in cross-boundary collaboration, community antifragility, and technology for good. Keith’s awards include from Gartner for social enterprise and from the NHS for technology to replicate healthcare innovations.

Keith’s first book “Human Interactions” (2005) was described by Information Age as “the overarching framework for 21st century business technology”. Keith’s other books include two for Springer and three for the Workflow Management coalition. Keith’s most recent book “Supercommunities” (2021) was described by the Chief Executive of the RSA in his foreword as “Ranging from ancient history to economics to psychology to public policy ‘Supercommunities’ is both authoritative and highly readable. It puts our current challenges in context, shows why change is necessary and provides a trove of practical ideas for change makers.”

Vint Cerf, co-inventor of the Internet, in a second foreword, wrote “Supercommunities offers a path away from social and economic meltdown … We will need to replace short-term thinking with long term planning and execution if we are to regain upward motion towards common benefit for everyone on Spaceship Earth. To begin, read this book!”

Keith currently focuses on creating the Internet of Communities via his company’s revolutionary technology “Dedoctive” – a fundamental AI innovation, academically-validated for the MoD as fully trustworthy, that empowers reliable access to complex information for all.

Keith is also a jazz pianist, traditional folk musician, and classical composer. He has released 9 albums and performs regularly with a wide range of other musicians.

More information

Email Keith Harrison-Broninski: khb@dedoctive.ai