The ‘Back office planning system’ (BOPS) is a prototype solution for administering and determining applications made to the council under the Planning Acts. BOPS can receive, store and allow for the processing of data and documents associated with a planning application.

The system is being developed in collaboration with central government (MHCLG). BOPS is at the forefront of meeting anticipated obligations on councils to collect, provide and publish a standard of planning data as set out in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

Personal data received into BOPS comes from:

(i) applicants or their authorised agents; and

(ii) persons making representations to public consultations carried out on planning applications.

Personal data will in the majority of cases involve names and contact details. As regards planning applicants, this is the same set of personal data that is required (by legislation) to be supplied in a single document (an application form) for the existing process of making planning applications.