Use of artificial intelligence in casework evidence
Guidance on use of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of any appeal, application or examination being dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate.
- From:
- Planning Inspectorate
- Published
- 6 September 2024
- Last updated
- 20 February 2026 — See all updates
Applies to England and Wales
The Inspectorate understands that AI can be used to support our work, and that this can be done positively when it isis properly and transparently used. Due to the evolving capability and application of AI we will keep this guidance under review.review.
AIYou ismay technologyuse thatartificial enablesintelligence a(AI) computerto orhelp otherprepare machineinformation you send to exhibitthe ‘intelligence’Planning normallyInspectorate associatedif withyou humans.follow Recentthis advancesguidance meanwhich explains thatwhat AIyou canshould nowtell beus when AI has been used to create newor substantially contentchange any inpart theof formyour ofsubmission.
We text,ask images,for videos,this audio,information computerso codeInspectors can understand the source and otherhandling of typesthe ofmaterial data.they Itare canassessing. alsoThis behelps usedthem tomake alterfair, ortransparent enhanceand existingwell content.reasoned Indecisions. suchThe cases,requirements AIare worksdesigned byto drawingbe onsimple existingand information,not usuallyburdensome.
You fromdo anot largeneed databaseto ortell fromus theabout internet,routine totools providesuch aas responsespellchecking, togrammar asuggestions, user’sformatting promptstools, or requests. accessibility functions.
IfA you‘golden rule’ for any use of AI tois createthat oryou altermust anyuse partAI ofresponsibly. It is your documents,responsibility to ensure that the information orgenerated data,is accurate and appropriate.
When you shouldneed to tell us thatabout AI use
Tell us if you have doneused thisAI whento:
- draft
youor substantially rewrite text - produce a summary or analysis
- generate or alter images or videos
- create content that goes beyond straightforward formatting or presentation
How to provide theyour materialdeclaration
You only need to us. Youprovide shoulda alsoshort tellstatement.
This uscan whatbe systemsin your covering email, letter or tools included youas havepart used,of theyour sourcestatement and/or proof of theevidence.
What informationto thatinclude thein your statement
Please briefly state:
- That AI
systemwashasused. - Which
basedtoolitsyoucontentused.
Foron,example, CoPilot, chatGPT, midjounrney or another application. - What it was used for and
whathowinformationitorwasmaterialused.
Fortheexample,AIifhasitbeenwas used tocreatedraft an objection in general oralter.Inaaddition,specific part of an objection.
For example, ifyouany images or videos haveusedbeenAI,generatedyouorshouldaltered,dosaythewhichfollowing:- parts have changed.
ClearlyWhatlabelcheckswhereyouhavemadeusedandAIthatinyou take responsibility for thebodyaccuracy of thecontentcontent.
Professional thatparties
Professional AIparties hasare createdexpected orto altered,take responsibility for the accuracy and clearlylawfulness stateof thatthe AImaterial hasthey beensubmit.
If usedyou inare thata contentmember inof anya referencesprofessional tobody, ityou elsewhereshould also use AI in line with your documentation.
Please also see section 15 of people,the property,Procedural objectsGuide orwhich placesrelates haveto beengeneral createdobligations orof alteredthose usinggiving AI.
Interested parties
Interested parties may use AI hasto changed,help augmented,draft or removedtranslate partstheir ofrepresentation. theIf originalyou imagedo, orplease video,include anda identifyshort whichstatement partssaying ofso.
Follow the imageadvice orabove videoon haswhat beento changedinclude (suchin asyour addingstatement, ormaking removingsure buildingsyou orare infrastructureclear withinabout antaking responsibility image).
Why we ask for this information
Providing a brief statement helps the factualInspector accuracyunderstand ofhow the content.
While AI presents a very useful tool, the results it gives are not always perfect. AI is responsiblealso capable of creating fake representations or evidence, or other types of fake text and lawful.
The thatsteps outlined above should help you consider how you have appropriateused permissionsAI in your submissions. It should also help to disclosemitigate risk of andadding additional shareburden any/ unnecessary personaltime informationto andthe thatcase. This itsis important as improper use compliescould withbe dataat protectionrisk of being found as an example of unreasonable behaviour, and copyrightopen legislation. to
By following this guidance, you will help us, our Inspectors, and other people involved in the appeal, application or examination to understand the origin, purpose, and accuracy of the information. This will help everyone to interpret it and understand it properly.properly.
Data protection and sensitive information
Do not enter sensitive or personal information into public AI tools. What is personal data? - ICO
Contact
If you need further help with how to provide this information, contact the relevant case team using your case reference.
Any other questions should be directed via our Customer Services TeamTeam..
Updates to this page
-
To update our existing guidance in line with evolving AI use by our customers and translation added
-
First published.
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Update history
2026-02-20 07:45
To update our existing guidance in line with evolving AI use by our customers and translation added
2024-09-06 10:53
First published.