PrePlanning.ie to Present at IPI Irish Planning Awards Winners’ Showcase Webinar

We’re delighted to announce that PrePlanning.ie will be presenting at the Irish Planning Institute’s Irish Planning Awards Winners’ Showcase CPD Webinar on 14 January 2026. As winners of the Research & Innovation category at the Irish Planning Awards 2025, we’ve been invited to share insights from our award-winning project with planning professionals from across the country. This webinar the first CPD event of 2026 hosted by the Irish Planning Institute brings together two Irish Planning Awards winners to discuss their projects in detail and reflect on lessons for practice and service delivery.

At the 2025 Irish Planning Awards, the Carlow Pre-Planning Enquiry Service was recognised with the Research & Innovation prize, sponsored by the Office of the Planning Regulator an honour shared with our partners at Carlow County Council. This service represents a new model for how councils can deliver pre-planning support combining planning expertise with data-driven digital tools to provide:

• Instant, site-specific planning insight

• Consistent, transparent pre-planning information

• Improved service delivery for planners and applicants

• A digital learning platform supporting early-career planners

We’re proud that this approach has already transformed how users engage with pre-planning, easing pressure on planning departments while raising standards of advice and engagement.

At the CPD session on 14 January 2026, our presentation will explore:

• The journey from conception to award-winning delivery of the Carlow Pre-Planning Enquiry Service

• How councils can build confidence and service quality through smart, research-led digital solutions

• Practical insights into how data integration drives efficiency in pre-planning workflows

This is a great opportunity for councillors, planning staff and local authority leaders to see how innovation can support stronger engagement, better information flows, and more effective planning services across authorities.

For local authorities striving to improve service delivery, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and support both applicants and planning officers, the lessons from this project are directly relevant. PrePlanning.ie helps councils to:

• Automate pre-planning reports, saving time for planners and applicants alike

• Deliver consistent, accessible planning information online

• Support professional development and training for planning teams

• Enhance the transparency and efficiency of planning services

Whether you’re exploring digital pre-planning tools for the first time, or looking to refine existing services, our work with Carlow County Council offers a proven model with impact.

📅 Event: IPI Irish Planning Awards Winners’ Showcase CPD Webinar
🗓 Date: 14 January 2026
📍 Online (via Zoom)
📌 Featuring: Presentations from the winners of the Research & Innovation and Biodiversity categories.

You can try the Carlow Pre-Planning Enquiry Service for yourself at Carlow.PrePlanning.ie. If your local authority or planning office is exploring how digital tools can support better service delivery and engagement, we’d be excited to help you envision a similar solution check out the demonstration video to learn more or call us on 056 7820020 or contact us here.