Lewisham Council has identified more than 3,000 small sites with potential for housing development after piloting an AI-powered mapping tool designed to support planning and housing delivery.
The project, published as a case study by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), tested how artificial intelligence could help councils identify development opportunities more consistently and at scale. It formed part of the 2024 PropTech Innovation Fund.
The council used the Small Sites AI Finder, an AI-based mapping tool developed with architecture and urban design practice RCKa, to analyse land across the borough and identify locations with potential for new homes.
The pilot addressed a longstanding challenge for planning teams, where identifying small development sites had relied heavily on officer knowledge and manual reviews. According to the case study, this made it difficult to assess housing opportunities consistently across the borough or build a comprehensive evidence base for planning policy.
Identifying sites with potential
Alongside the mapping tool, Lewisham also analysed planning application data to assess the impact of its Small Sites Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document on housing delivery.
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The AI tool identified more than 3,000 sites with development potential, giving planners a broader picture of land availability than had previously been possible through manual assessment alone. The technology also enabled officers to explore different site characteristics and constraints before undertaking more detailed planning assessments.
The government said the pilot demonstrated how digital tools could strengthen evidence gathering while supporting existing planning expertise rather than replacing it. The AI-generated outputs still required officer review, with planning professionals assessing the suitability of individual sites before any could be considered for development.
According to the case study, the approach has helped the council better understand the contribution that small sites could make to future housing delivery and has provided a more robust evidence base for planning policy.
The project forms part of the government’s wider PropTech Innovation Fund, which supports local authorities in adopting digital technologies to improve planning processes and accelerate housing delivery. The Lewisham pilot has been published alongside other case studies highlighting how digital tools can support site identification, planning assessments and local plan development.
