Field Notes & Journal

Articles & Blogs

Writing on digital transformation, AI, open data and user-centred design — from the front line of public-sector technology.

Latest Writing

31 posts
Open Digital Planning: Month 10
Digital Planning Mar 29, 2026

Open Digital Planning: Month 10

March has been a whirlwind of activity, and while our project report was finalised slightly early due to end of annual l

Open Digital Planning: Month 9
Digital Planning Feb 28, 2026

Open Digital Planning: Month 9

As usual we’re balancing the Open Digital Planning project alongside day-to-day business as usual work, and the team h

Open Digital Planning: Month 8
digital planning Jan 30, 2026

Open Digital Planning: Month 8

January has been about tackling our most complex data challenges and securing some valuable “quick wins” for our int

Open Digital Planning: Month 7
digital planning Dec 28, 2025

Open Digital Planning: Month 7

December has been a period of steady, quiet progress. While the team has been balancing end-of-year duties and taking we

Year Notes 2025 — a Revolutionary Year in Review
Year Notes Dec 18, 2025

Year Notes 2025 — a Revolutionary Year in Review

A key goal this year was to start the councils’ transformation journey with AI; we’ve been cautious and looked for c

Open Digital Planning: Month 6
digital planning Nov 30, 2025

Open Digital Planning: Month 6

As we hit the six-month mark of our journey with the Planning Improvement Fund, November became a month defined by refle

Open Digital Planning: Month 5
digital planning Oct 31, 2025

Open Digital Planning: Month 5

The team is feeling energised this month, fresh from the Open Digital Planning (ODP) camp at Medway.

Open Digital Planning: Month 4
digital planning Sep 30, 2025

Open Digital Planning: Month 4

As a technologist, i’m still learning about planning, but this work gave me a new perspective to the cityscapes and pl

Open Digital Planning: Month 3
digital planning Aug 30, 2025

Open Digital Planning: Month 3

Our First Open Planning Dataset is Now Live for Adur and Worthing!