Maploom has developed a new prototype digital mapping tool, in collaboration with the GeoData Institute at the University of Southampton, designed to help the Forestry Commission evaluate the impacts of developments on woodlands, ancient woodlands, and veteran trees.
The initiative is part of Project WIDGET (Woodland Impacts of Development: Guidance, Evidence and Tools), which aims to improve the integration of trees and woodlands in the planning process. By identifying gaps in evidence, guidance, and tools, the project seeks to enhance the consideration of environmental factors in planning decisions.
Funded by the UK Government’s Project Speed—an initiative designed to accelerate major infrastructure developments and stimulate economic growth—the WIDGET prototype focuses on delivering efficiency improvements in the current process of assessing woodland and tree impacts during planning.
The tool’s development involved extensive consultation, with over 50 organisations contributing through interviews, in-person workshops, and online sessions
Maploom is excited to showcase the powerful analysis capabilities of the tool, which it believes will deliver significant benefits, including cost savings, a single source of truth, live data feeds, dashboards and automated responses to planning queries. These improvements are expected to support not only the Forestry Commission but also Local Planning Authorities, the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), government departments, and other stakeholders within the planning system.
A key feature of the tool is its automated analysis function, which allows users to define areas of interest and generate templated reports that include maps and statistics outlining potential woodland impacts.
While currently designed primarily for FC, the platform’s functionality is relevant to any organisation wishing to understand development impacts on trees and woodlands, including developers, Local Authorities etc. The prototype marks a step toward more efficient and informed planning decisions that better account for the protection of the UK’s woodland and trees.
For more information about the project or about our automated reporting and dashboard tools please contact us here: support@maploom.com
Example report page: Flood risk and potential pollutant runoff affecting ancient woodland