Carlow’s Pre-Planning Enquiry Service Shortlisted for Irish Planning Awards 2025

We’re delighted to announce that Carlow County Council’s Pre-Planning Enquiry Service has been officially shortlisted in the Research and Innovation category at the Irish Planning Awards 2025. This nomination recognises a truly collaborative and forward-thinking initiative a project that began with national research and evolved into a local, planner-led digital innovation that’s already making a real difference for applicants, planners, and communities across County Carlow.

The submission, “Carlow Pre-Planning Enquiry Service: A Research-Led Digital Innovation Supporting Early Career Planners and Improving Service Delivery,” is grounded in sector-wide insights published by the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR).

Their 2022 Case Study Paper (CSP04) highlighted challenges and opportunities for improving pre-planning consultation services. In direct response, our team designed and delivered an entirely new way of providing early-stage planning advice, practical, accessible, and powered by real-world data.

What makes this project special is not just the technology but the way it was built. The platform was shaped entirely by the planners who use it every day, with support from PrePlanning.ie.

The result is a fast, transparent and user-friendly pre-planning enquiry system that’s:

• Fully digital and available 24/7
• Supports early-career planners as a learning and mentoring tool
• Streamlines consultation for both applicants and planning staff
• Democratises access to planning information for the public

To date, over 3,700 pre-planning reports have been generated through the platform, each in under 30 seconds. Reducing duplication, improving consistency, and making the entire process more approachable for everyone involved. We’re particularly proud that this innovation is not just about efficiency, but about equity giving all users, regardless of their experience or background, access to the same high-quality, site-specific planning information.

Being shortlisted for this national award is a huge honour and a testament to the dedication, creativity, and leadership of Carlow’s planning team. It also highlights what’s possible when research isn’t just read but acted upon.

We look forward to the awards ceremony and extend our congratulations to all the other shortlisted projects across Ireland. Thank you to the Irish Planning Institute and the awards panel for recognising this work. Stay tuned as we continue to refine and expand our approach and keep pushing for smarter, more inclusive planning services.

You can try the Carlow Pre-Planning Enquiry Service for yourself at Carlow.PrePlanning.ie. If you’re interested in exploring how your council could integrate this simple, scalable tool alongside your existing services, check out the demonstration video to learn more or call us on 056 7820020 or contact us here.