The study commissioned by Nottingham City Council in partnership with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, and undertaken by ConsultingWhere, provides compelling evidence that investment in three dimensional (3D) modelling and geospatial technology not only brings tangible benefits but also delivers substantial financial returns.
Nottingham City Council’s pioneering use of both two dimensional (2D) and 3D geospatial data demonstrates how technology can transform strategic and operational planning processes. The planning team imports detailed 3D digital models, provided by architects and developers, directly into their own digital model of the city in order to instantly visualise how the proposed development will integrate within the existing urban environment. Planning officers then assess each scheme and check how it aligns with Nottingham’s Local Plan and vision for the development of the city. The technology developed has become an invaluable tool, facilitating more productive discussions between planning officers, applicants, other teams within the council and planning committee members. This approach has streamlined and significantly accelerated decision-making for major planning proposals and improved the outcomes for all stakeholders involved.
In qualitative terms the key benefits of introducing 3D modelling across many stages of the development assessment process are found to be:
Additional potential benefits of the use of 3D geospatial information were also identified for developers and planning consultants, although these will need to be validated by wider consultation in further phases of work. These include benefits from:
The analysis involved considerations such as the monetary value of making quicker, more informed decisions within development management, for the urban design team to assess site capacity, and for the sustainability of schemes and its use to attract inward investment.
The Return on Investment over a 10-year period, based upon the small sample of use cases within Nottingham related to key internal planning processes was estimated at 2:1. A clear indication that the investment costs are exceeded by the benefits realised.
It also shows an impressive benefit to cost ratio of over 20:1 and Cumulative Net Present Value (NPV) of £7.0m when combined with external benefits.
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