Today, various information systems are used to carry out planning procedures, and information about plans being prepared is scattered across local government websites and the document management systems of various institutions. This makes it difficult to understand what stage a particular plan is at and who has submitted opinions on it. Some activities, such as searching for the contact details of many interested and affected parties, are very time-consuming for the organizer of the planning process. There is no unified solution that would link the various parties, stages, and data into a single whole. This causes delays and reduces the effectiveness of cooperation between the public and institutions.
The objectives of the development are:
- To speed up and simplify planning procedures
- Use machine-readable data created during the planning process in subsequent procedures
- Increase transparency and accessibility of planning procedure data
- Connect PLANK (planning database) with the e-construction platform
What is being developed?
The development covers the entire planning process, from the submission of an application to the adoption of a plan. Key innovations:
- User-friendly environment and understandable process flow: a consistently logical and traceable process for private individuals, businesses, and officials alike. Each party to the procedure has their own desktop and personalized view ("My plans," "My procedures," etc.), where they can clearly see ongoing and completed processes, submitted documents, and their status. The procedure is transparent – all actions, positions, and decisions are linked to specific parties and fixed in time. This allows users to monitor the progress of the procedure in real time, provide feedback, and collaborate. User-friendliness also means that information is not lost – documentation and data are retained even after the plan has been adopted.
- Actions and involvement: coordination, opinions, disclosures, and discussions in one environment. Instead of the previous scattered and file-based communication, all actions – from requesting opinions to public discussions and approvals – move through the system in a structured and logical manner. The organizer (e.g., a local government official) can initiate specific actions at each stage of the procedure, such as: sending coordination requests to authorities, asking for opinions, or initiating mass involvement, for example, of the owners of the affected area, organize a public display followed by a public discussion, where the feedback collected is recorded in the system and linked to the relevant plan, carry out international involvement if the plan has a cross-border impact.
Everyone receives a notification through the system, logs in, and gives their opinion directly in the environment. Feedback can be provided on specific documents or parts of the plan (e.g., explanatory memorandum, SEA, visuals). Comments are made in a structured form, and the opinions submitted can be classified (e.g., taken into account, partially taken into account, not taken into account, or clarified). This approach reduces confusion, eliminates the need for e-mail correspondence and attachments, and gives all parties a clear overview of which proposals have been taken into account and why. In addition, each action has its own history – when it was sent, who responded, in what form, and with what content. This helps to ensure transparency and traceability and provides assurance that all opinions have been heard and the steps of the procedure have been documented.
- Integration of the planning database and the information system for the procedure being created. The aim is to ensure that all valid PLANK data is fully machine-readable, searchable, and visually presentable on the e-construction platform, including links to map layers, and that data is stored once. To this end, existing data will be migrated to the new system, and automatic checks will be developed for the system when new plans are established, which will help prevent formatting and content errors before the final decision on establishment.
- Map application and detailed searches: detailed searches of plans are available to the public. Users can easily find specific plans based on, for example, cadastral unit, address, organizer, or plan type. The map displays filtered search results in real time, and each result can be used to open the corresponding plan, view its status, and related documents. Searches can be saved, shared, and referenced directly via a web link. The solution supports the transparency of plans and makes it easier for both the public and authorities to find information.
- Data-based approach: the possibility to use data collected during the procedure in other administrative processes, such as the issuance of building permits.
Completion of development
The first development will be available at the end of 2025. In the following years, further developments will gradually add additional functions to the information system, which will further simplify the planning process. The use of the application resulting from the first development in 2025 for planning processes is voluntary for planning organizers (local governments, ministries), and procedures can also be continued in their own information systems. At the same time, the introduction of the system will streamline work processes, reduce the administrative burden, and provide better service. A transparent and traceable procedure will strengthen trust and create the conditions for data-based spatial planning. In the future, the plan is to consolidate all planning procedures into a single information system to ensure a uniform, high-quality public service throughout Estonia. Therefore, early implementation of the system will help to prepare for the changes smoothly and to shape a better user experience through dialogue.
Result of the development of the planning procedure information system
The solution being created is a central tool for streamlining the planning process, which is a prerequisite for more transparent planning procedures, the unimpeded flow of information, and the introduction of data-based planning.
Additional information: https://planeerimine.ee/digi/ and e-construction platform
Loomise kuupäev: 14.11.2025
