At Blue Fox Technology and JDi Solutions, we work side-by-side with Local Plan teams every day. We don’t just see the policies and datasets shaping OpusMap and OpusConsult - we see the people behind them: their frustrations, pressures, hopes, and the determination to deliver.
Here’s what we’re hearing across England in 2025 through demos and onboarding with local plan-making teams.
What’s Hurting
- “We’re short-staffed and the budget is tight. It’s a constant struggle.”
- “Reforms keep shifting - we’re repeating work we thought was finished.”
- “Inspectors want data we can’t easily extract from our systems.”
- “Consultations take huge time and manual effort to organise and run.”
- “I’m worried we won’t complete the plan - all that effort could go to waste.”
- “Our systems just aren't built for digital plan-making.”
Local planning teams are under pressure - operational, political, and public - often without the digital infrastructure or certainty they need.
What They Need
Local Plan teams tell us they need:
- Clarity and stability in national policy and digital expectations
- Modern, integrated tools that automate manual tasks and reduce error
- Usable data and intuitive systems that empower staff at all levels
- Meaningful digital engagement with communities and stakeholders
- Built-in compliance and audit trails to reduce risk and workload
- A responsive partner who understands planning - not just software
What They Fear
- Missing the 30-month LURA timetable
- Political, public, or legal challenge from delays or quality issues
- Loss of data control, audit traceability, or staff capacity
- Performance-linked funding challenges
- Falling behind digitally compared to better-resourced councils
- Losing work or data due to restructuring or legal disputes
What They Aspire To
- Lead digitally confident, reform-ready planning services
- Deliver sound, inspectable Local Plans with public trust
- Move from reactive to proactive planning
- Empower teams with modern, supportive tools
- Build a legacy of innovation, delivery, and confidence
The Strategic Imperative
Meeting these expectations isn’t about working harder - it’s about equipping teams better.
That’s why we built the Opus System - designed around how planners actually work and how communities and stakeholders expect to engage.
Together, OpusMap (interactive mapping and data management) and OpusConsult (digital engagement and consultation) help planning authorities:
- Produce faster, schema-aligned Local Plans
- Collaborate across policy, GIS, consultation, and comms
- Automate compliance and evidence collection
- Maintain live, authoritative plan data
- Build trust and transparency through intuitive maps and public-facing content
Want to Know More?
If these challenges feel familiar - we’d love to talk. Our team can show you how Opus helps councils:
- Meet statutory milestones with confidence
- Streamline digital plan preparation
- Strengthen public trust in plan-making
- Support team capability and resilience
Every day saved in plan-making is a day closer to delivery.
Get in touch via info@jdi-solutions.co.uk