Storm ID partners with Scottish Government to deliver the next generation Apply service for planning, building and appeals

At the heart of this work is Apply: a new, cloud-based digital service that will replace the existing eDevelopment Scotland service, building a stronger foundation for continuous improvement and a better end-to-end experience for both applicants and the authorities processing applications.

The challenge

Planning and building standards processes are inherently detailed. People using these services range from first-time homeowners who need more guidance and reassurance, to professional agents who move quickly and expect efficiency.

The Scottish Government has identified several areas where today’s experience can be improved:

• Pre-application activity varies by authority and isn’t currently supported end-to-end through the current national eDevelopment service.
• Applicants can find it difficult to understand what permissions are needed and what information to prepare.
• A significant proportion of applications are submitted with missing or incorrect information, creating frustration for applicants and additional workload for authorities.
• Applicants often can’t easily see the status of their submission, which drives avoidable follow-up enquiries.

Add to that the reality that Apply is not a standalone product. It needs to operate across all Scottish Planning Authorities and integrate with back office case management systems in use across Local Government.

The Apply service is the latest programme to benefit from the Scottish Government strategy of developing reusable components that help accelerate and reduce the cost of digital service delivery. Apply will leverage ScotAccount for identity, the digital design system and the Scottish Government Forms and Payment services.

Target outcomes

Apply is designed to deliver outcomes that matter to both citizens and the public servants who support them. This includes:

• Fewer avoidable errors through clearer journeys, better validation and improved data capture - reducing the pain of invalid applications.
• Less duplication for repeat applicants and agents through pre-population and project-based workflows.
• More transparency for applicants, with improved ability to track what’s happening after submission and receive updates without needing to chase.
• Better data quality and reporting, supporting continuous improvement and more informed decision making over time.
• A platform that can evolve, enabling future capabilities like more interactive guidance, rules-driven policy, and improved support for Planners and Building standard professionals.

Commenting on the work, Linsey Lydon, Managing Director at Storm ID, said “Apply is a critical piece of Scotland’s digital public infrastructure, and we’re proud to be working with the Scottish Government to help shape its next generation. This programme combines complex policy, national-scale delivery and real-world user needs, which is where Storm ID does its best work. By focusing on solid foundations, thoughtful integration and close collaboration, we’re helping to create a service that can genuinely improve outcomes for applicants and the authorities who support them.”