Paul Downey

Planning Data Service Owner

Paul Downey is the Planning Data Service Owner at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in the United Kingdom.4 In this role, he oversees planning.data.gov.uk, a platform aimed at making planning and housing data more accessible, understandable, and trustworthy.1

Professional Background

Paul Downey has a background in digital services and data management within the government sector. He became the Service Owner for Planning Data in 2023, as evidenced by his introduction to the role in a blog post dated June 14, 2023.2 His LinkedIn username is pdowney.3

Responsibilities and Initiatives

As the Planning Data Service Owner, Downey is involved in several key initiatives:

AI in Planning: He has been exploring the use of artificial intelligence to streamline the planning process, including the development of a chatbot to extract information from local plans.1
Data Standardization: Downey is working on establishing consistent data standards for planning information, which is a priority for his program.1
Open Digital Planning: He is associated with the Open Digital Planning (ODP) community, which offers training and development to Local Planning Authorities.1

Expertise and Approach

Downey emphasizes the importance of:

Understanding user needs in digital planning
Finding innovative ways to meet these needs effectively
Balancing technology advancements with skill development in the planning sector

He actively engages in discussions about the potential of AI in planning while acknowledging its current limitations and the need for human oversight in strategic decision-making.1