The 12 winning teams of the £1.2 million PropTech Innovation Challenge have been announced, which organisers say marks a major milestone in the government’s mission to deliver 1.5 million homes.
The challenge, a collaboration between OS initiative Geovation and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Digital Planning Programme, aims to identify and support scalable digital solutions that directly support the government’s home building commitment.
The winning proposals include AI-powered land data platforms, infrastructure mapping tools, digital planning assistants and small site viability engines. Each team will receive up to £100,000 to develop their innovations by March 2026, working alongside local authority and developer partners.
With the winning teams now announced, the development phase for digital solutions tackling land data, small site viability and infrastructure barriers can now begin, organisers said. The development phase will focus on delivering measurable impact, supported by access to OS and Planning Data platform datasets and live testing environments across England.
Projects will be assessed against success metrics including reductions in planning delays, improved access to infrastructure and land data, increased investor confidence, and time savings for local authorities. Geovation will provide technical guidance and sector connections throughout, while the development phase will also aim to deepen collaboration across the housing and planning sectors.
Following development, successful solutions will be considered for wider adoption and scaling across the property sector.
Joanna Averley, chief planner at MHCLG, said:
“The PropTech Innovation Challenge demonstrates how targeted innovation can help tackle some of the most pressing challenges in planning and housing. The breadth and quality of solutions proposed reflect the sector’s appetite for change and readiness to co-create scalable solutions that deliver real impact for the 1.5 million homes mission.”
All submissions underwent a rigorous evaluation process involving representatives from MHCLG, Department for Business and Trade, Environment Agency, HM Land Registry, Homes England, 10 Downing Street and others.
From 116 expressions of interest, over 80 full applications, and 225 partners – including SME developers, universities, and local planning authorities – 20 finalists were shortlisted and assessed on feasibility, innovation, and impact.
- 1st Planner Ltd
- Advanced Infrastructure Technology Ltd
- Alchera Technologies
- City Science
- Coplug
- LANDCLAN
- Libra
- Neuron
- PlanningHub
- RCKa
- RenKap
- Xylo
Nick Bolton, CEO of Ordnance Survey, said:
“The PropTech Innovation Challenge has shown what’s possible when government, industry, and innovators come together with a shared purpose. The winning proposals demonstrate the power of location data and digital technologies to unlock housing delivery at scale—bringing transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity to the planning system. At Geovation, we’re proud to support this new wave of PropTech innovation and help create the conditions for smarter, faster, and more sustainable development across the country.”
The challenge builds on the momentum of MHCLG’s Digital Planning Programme and PropTech Innovation Fund, which have delivered over 114 pilot projects across 77 councils. It represents a broadened approach to testing and validating how PropTech can serve as a catalyst for the government’s home-building ambition through digital and scalable solutions, organisers said.
