Stephen Ottewell, Director of Planning and Building Control at Capita, interviews planning experts - this Q and A focuses on sustainable development.

The Covid-19 pandemic means that many citizens are contacting their local authority online for the very first time. Unable to communicate with officials face-to-face, they expect seamless and effective service through digital channels instead.

In this series of local government Q&As, Stephen Ottewell, Director of Planning and Building Control at Capita Local Public Services, interviews planning experts on hot topics in the sector, including the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The use of data analytics and automation can improve the experience of users and deliver savings compared to the more traditional service-desk SLA approach.

Were you unsuccessful in the round 2 levelling up fund, there are still plenty of funding routes out there and support is available to help you bring your projects to fruition.

The Economic impact of digital inclusion in the UK report has found every £1 invested in building essential digital skills contributes £9.48 to the UK economy.

As political leaders and civil servants react to an ever-increasing array of challenges, we consider how to make time for placemaking and digital projects.

How can levelling-up be truly achieved when there’s still a large gap between those who are digitally included and those in our communities who are not?

For the past five years the number of homeless people in the UK has been rising, with Crisis estimating that up to 200,000 families and individuals are now experiencing the most severe forms of homelessness, including rough sleeping.

It’s been a few months since the long awaited Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail was published, with some early signs of reform already being introduced, such as the recent launch of new flexible tickets for commuters.