Aipedia: Planning consultants

AI-drafted planning statements

Aipedia, by the Apex broking team · Last reviewed 2026-10-27

AI can produce a usable first draft of a planning statement, but the consultant remains responsible for every policy reference and judgement in it. Statements are the backbone of an application, so an AI error can shape the decision and the client's view of who caused a refusal.

Part of: AI in Planning consultants

In short

Planning, heritage and sustainability statements are documents consultants may draft with AI. The main failure modes are quoting a superseded version of the NPPF or local plan, inventing policy text that sounds right but does not exist, and generic assessments that miss site-specific issues. If the same statement goes to the Planning Inspectorate on appeal, AI drafting must be declared under the guidance updated on 23 September 2026. A refusal blamed on a defective statement is usually handled as an ordinary negligence claim under PI, subject to the wording.

How consultants use AI on statements

Typical uses include asking a generative AI chatbot to draft a policy context section, summarising a local plan chapter, turning site notes into a description of development, and producing first drafts of heritage or sustainability statements from a template. Some practices feed earlier statements into an AI assistant to keep house style.

This saves time on structure and prose. The risk sits in the content that looks most authoritative: policy numbers, quoted policy wording, paragraph references to national policy, and statements about what a supplementary planning document requires. AI tools may not know which version of a plan is adopted, and they can produce fluent policy text that has never been published. The AI in planning consultancy overview sets out where statements fit among other AI uses.

The duties that apply

There is no statutory regulator, but several duties apply:

The common law duty to exercise the skill and care of a reasonably competent planning consultant, whatever tools are used.
For RTPI members, the RTPI Code of Professional Conduct (in force 1 February 2023), whose core principles on competence and honesty apply to AI-assisted work although the Code does not mention AI.
If the statement is later submitted on appeal, the Planning Inspectorate AI guidance requires a declaration of AI drafting or substantial rewriting, with references to the parts affected and confirmation of responsibility for accuracy. See the PINS AI declaration guide.

What can go wrong

Illustrative scenario. A consultant uses an AI assistant to draft the planning statement for a small residential scheme. The draft cites a design policy by its number in the previous local plan and quotes wording that was changed on adoption of the new plan. The officer's report notes the statement relies on superseded policy and fails to address the current requirement. The application is refused. The client, who paid for a fresh application and lost time on a land option, says the refusal was caused by the defective statement.

Similar problems arise when a heritage statement describes significance from generic text rather than the listing description, or a sustainability statement claims compliance with standards the council does not apply. Apex's planning PI claims examples show how refusal-related claims develop.

How PI usually responds

A claim that a negligent statement caused a refusal is a conventional professional negligence claim, so PI commonly responds whether or not AI was used, subject to the policy terms. Insurers may look at:

whether a competent consultant would have checked the policy references;
causation, since councils refuse for many reasons and a defective statement may not be the cause;
whether the policy contains AI-specific exclusions or conditions;
whether the work falls within the activities declared to insurers.

There is no statutory PI requirement for planning consultants, so limits and terms are usually set by client contracts. See the planning consultants PI guide.

Practical controls

Check every policy number and quotation against the adopted plan and the current NPPF, not the AI output.
Record the plan versions relied on in the file.
Have a second person review AI-drafted policy sections before issue.
Write site-specific assessment yourself; use AI for structure, not judgement.
Mark which sections were AI-drafted so a declaration can be made if the scheme goes to appeal.
Do not paste confidential client information into public AI tools without agreement (see telling planning clients you use AI).

How Apex helps

Apex arranges PI for planning consultants and a broker can check how your policy treats AI-drafted documents. For research risks behind statements, read AI research of policy and appeal decisions.

Sources

Frequently asked

Do I need to declare AI use in a planning statement submitted to the council?

The Planning Inspectorate guidance covers evidence submitted in its casework, so it applies if the statement goes to appeal or is part of an application the Inspectorate decides. Councils may set their own expectations. Recording which parts AI drafted makes any later declaration easy.

Can a client sue me if an AI-drafted statement leads to a refusal?

A client can claim if they show the statement fell below a competent standard and caused their loss. Causation is often contested, because refusals have many reasons. The use of AI does not change the legal test; the consultant is judged on the finished document.

What AI errors should I watch for in planning statements?

Superseded or invented policy is a key risk. AI tools may draw on an old local plan or earlier NPPF version, or produce plausible policy text that does not exist. Every policy reference and quotation should be checked against the current adopted source.

Is AI safe for heritage statements?

Use it with care. Heritage statements turn on the significance of a particular asset and the effect of the proposal on its setting, which needs site knowledge and judgement. Generic AI text about significance, or descriptions not drawn from the official listing entry, can undermine the statement and invite refusal.

Check your PI covers how you use AI

Tell us about your firm and the work you do. A broker will review how your current PI treats AI-assisted work, or arrange new cover. No fee for a quote. Or call 0117 325 0027.

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Apex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information about how AI is used in the profession and how insurance may respond. It is not legal, regulatory or insurance advice on your circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.