Part Two: How AI Validator Works and the Measurable Impact

Before you dive in, Part 1: The Case for AI Validator sets the scene if you haven’t read it yet.

Rather than being tied to a single platform or ecosystem, AI Validator works alongside any back-office system, giving councils complete flexibility.

It is service-led and configurable, including standard, national rules, and also allowing local validation rules and requirements to be tailored to each authority, rather than forcing rigid or standardised workflows.

With more than four years of live deployment learning, it offers operational maturity and real-world refinement, unlike newer AI modules still in early development.

Most importantly, its development has been collaborative and council-led, rather than platform-led or vendor-controlled.

AI Validator does not simply “read” a PDF and return a generic output. Instead, it runs a structured workflow that mirrors how validation officers already work, using multiple focused AI processes to reduce repetitive manual checking.

The input

The system ingests what the applicant submits, including:

• Supporting documents (design & access statements, heritage statements, etc.)
• The description of proposed works
• The application type and classification
• Drawings such as site plans, floor plans, and elevations

The analysis

A focused sequence of specialised Machine learning models that perform specialist tasks including:

• Document classification
• Mapping applicant descriptions to standard terms
• Applying application-type requirements
• Running intelligent spatial analysis against GIS layers
• Classifying drawings
• Validating what plans show and identifying what may be missing

The Output and Decision

The system generates a structured set of outputs, including:

• A validated list of documents
• A validated list of plans
• Design-specific requirements
• Location-specific requirements
• A full validation checklist

Those outputs are then matched against requirements. If something is missing, AI Validator does not simply return an “error.” It highlights exactly what is missing and why, helping officers respond faster and more consistently.

The result is a workflow that is more efficient, more transparent, and far easier to manage at scale.

AI Validator is not a black box.

It is designed to support officers with clear reasoning, structured outputs, and full accountability. Every recommendation is traceable, reviewable, and designed to support consistent decision-making.

It is not about replacing officers. It is about giving them the tools to lead validation with greater confidence and less administrative burden.

Key officer-led features include:

• Side-by-side comparison to quickly identify differences in resubmitted plans
• Automatic measurement tools to measure distances and areas directly on-screen
• Full audit trail logging every AI action for complete transparency
• Version tracking to support repeat submissions and amendments
• Local rule configuration to reflect each council’s unique requirements
• Automatic document processing, including renaming and orienting drawings

These capabilities reduce friction, increase confidence, and improve consistency across validation outcomes.

In a climate of constrained budgets and rising demand, efficiency is no longer optional.

For councils, AI is only valuable if it delivers measurable outcomes. AI Validator’s impact is not theoretical. It is supported by real usage data from councils already using the platform.

At Salford City Council, validation time dropped by up to 60%.

That is not marginal improvement. It represents transformational capacity gain, enabling officers to focus on higher-value work while reducing repetitive checks and avoidable delays.

Using our ROI Calculator, councils can model the potential impact based on their own volumes and workflows, including:

• Time saved per application
• Reduction in manual validation checks
• Faster applicant turnaround
• Lower invalid submission rates
• Increased planning team capacity

In an environment where councils are expected to do more with less, these gains are essential.

AI Validator is no longer an experiment. It is a proven utility used by over 20 councils, built through years of live deployments, continuous refinement, and a collaborative council-led approach.

Shaped by real validation teams and tested in operational environments, it delivers a faster, more consistent, and more transparent way to manage planning validation across the country.