Urban Intelligence

What Urban Intelligence does

Urban Intelligence Ltd is a UK-based software company that builds PlaceMaker, a cloud-based digital Local Plan SaaS platform sold exclusively to UK local planning authorities. Founded by Daniel Mohamed after his experience as a Planning Policy Officer, the company operates as a Crown Commercial Supplier on the UK Government's G-Cloud 14 framework and works only with the public sector. PlaceMaker combines a Site Assessment & Identification module (proactive site identification, automated suitability and capacity analysis, digital Call for Sites, scenario testing) with an Engagement module (drag-and-drop Document Builder, consultation management, representation manager) into one centralised system, underpinned by the proprietary SiteScore® scoring algorithms and integrated geospatial datasets including the Department for Transport's Connectivity Tool at 100m x 100m grid resolution.

The company monetises PlaceMaker via SaaS subscriptions purchased through G-Cloud 14 using "SAAS Credits" that entitle access to platform features and Site Reports, with overage fees for additional reports and monthly or annual billing on credit card or purchase order terms. Additional revenue comes from API subscription services with monthly billing per Order Form, and from bespoke consultancy engagements covering analysis, feature co-design, and GIS support billed via Engagement Letters. Customer acquisition is sales-led and demo-driven, with no-obligation demos delivered by in-house planners rather than sales staff, and the company supplements demand generation through articles, case studies, LinkedIn and Twitter, and active participation at Planning Officer Society conferences, PropTech events, and government-sponsored digital planning initiatives.

Urban Intelligence holds ISO 9001, ISO 22301, ISO 27001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications alongside Cyber Essentials, reflecting its positioning as a regulated public-sector supplier. The customer base has expanded to over 25 councils across England and Scotland (including Birmingham City Council, Hounslow, Somerset, North East Derbyshire, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Cornwall, and East Ayrshire), serving a combined 6.2 million residents, with 4,480 Call for Sites submissions processed as of February 2025 and 1,358,326 hectares of land area analysed inside the platform.

Name

Urban Intelligence

Legal name

Urban Intelligence Ltd

Website

https://urbanintelligence.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Urban Intelligence builds PlaceMaker, a digital Local Plan SaaS platform for UK local planning authorities. It automates site identification, suitability scoring, call for sites, public consultation, and scenario testing via proprietary SiteScore® algorithms and is sold through the G-Cloud 14 framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Planning Software

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929)

akta.pro primary industry

POI, Local Listings & Business Directory Platforms (BPAMANAD)

Keywords

• Local plan software
• Planning automation tools
• Geospatial analytics
• Site assessment software
• Public sector SaaS

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription (SAAS Services): Subscription-based software-as-a-service providing access to PlaceMaker platform. Customers purchase SAAS Credits which entitle access to the platform and Site Reports. Overage fees apply for reports accessed beyond purchased credits. Monthly or annual billing with credit card or purchase order payment.
2. API Services: API subscription services providing access to API Reports and technical literature. Monthly billing with fees set out in Order Form.
3. Consultancy Services: Custom consultancy services including bespoke analysis, feature co-design, and GIS support. Billed monthly based on engagement letter terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Urban Intelligence develops and sells PlaceMaker, a cloud-based SaaS platform that enables UK local planning authorities to identify, assess, and rank development sites, run digital Call for Sites exercises, and manage public consultations end-to-end. The product uses proprietary SiteScore® algorithms for automated site scoring and integrates mapping, DfT transport connectivity analysis, a Document Builder, and a Representation Manager. It is sold exclusively to UK local authorities as a subscription via the G-Cloud 14 framework, alongside optional API access and bespoke consultancy services.

Product overview

Urban Intelligence offers PlaceMaker, a unified digital Local Plan SaaS platform with two primary modules: the Site Assessment & Identification Module and the Engagement Module. PlaceMaker enables councils to identify and assess sites using automated SiteScore® algorithms, conduct digital Call for Sites exercises, test development scenarios, and manage public consultations through a Document Builder with embedded questions and maps. The platform integrates with the DfT Connectivity Tool for transport accessibility analysis. Available as a Crown Commercial Supplier on the UK Government's G-Cloud 14 framework, PlaceMaker is designed exclusively for UK local planning authorities. The company also offers API Services and Consultancy Services for bespoke analysis and feature co-design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PlaceMaker: Award-winning digital Local Plan software platform for local planning authorities, enabling site assessment, identification, and engagement for the Local Plan process.
• SiteScore®

Products and services

• PlaceMaker PlaceMaker is the company's award-winning digital Local Plan software purpose-built in partnership with UK councils. It enables planners to identify, assess, and collaborate on sites, manage digital Call for Sites exercises, test development scenarios, and engage citizens via a Document Builder and Representation Manager. It is available exclusively to UK local planning authorities via the G-Cloud 14 framework and comprises a Site Assessment & Identification module and an Engagement module within one centralised platform.
• API Services Subscription-based API services providing programmatic access to API Reports and PlaceMaker technical literature in human-readable or machine-readable forms. Sold under an API Term with monthly fees per Order Form and available to customers subscribed to API Services.
• Consultancy Services Custom consultancy engagements delivered by Urban Intelligence's team of Planners, Data Scientists, and Developers. Includes bespoke analysis, co-designing new features, and supporting councils with their digital planning journey. Fees are defined per Engagement Letter.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% reduction in site assessment time (from 3.5 hours to 0.5 hours per site) for North East Derbyshire
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Allies & MorrisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading designers Allies & Morrison worked with Hounslow Council in parallel on a character and context study. Their criteria informed the SiteScore® algorithm rules defined between Urban Intelligence and Hounslow planners.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cadcorp: UK-based GIS and spatial data software vendor used by local authorities for planning, asset management, and emergency services. Broad incumbent with overlapping mapping and spatial analysis capabilities, but operating as a generalist GIS provider rather than a digital local plan specialist.
• Esri UK: UK arm of the global GIS leader, with ArcGIS deeply embedded in local authorities for spatial analysis, mapping, and planning workflows. Broad incumbent whose capabilities overlap with PlaceMaker's mapping and site assessment functionality but as part of a much wider GIS portfolio rather than a planning specialist.
• Civica: UK-headquartered provider of software for local government, housing, and public services including planning, regulatory, and document management. Broad incumbent offering overlapping UK public sector planning software capabilities within a much larger gov-tech portfolio across multiple service lines.

Emerging players

• Realyse: UK PropTech providing residential development analytics, site sourcing intelligence, and market data for developers, agents, and investors. Emerging player with overlapping focus on development feasibility and site assessment data, though more developer-centric than council-centric.

Direct peers

• LandTech: UK PropTech platform for land sourcing, due diligence, and development workflow targeting property developers and agents. Direct peer with overlapping site identification and developer-focused tooling, offering comparable value to a similar customer persona in the land development pipeline.
• Searchland: UK PropTech platform for development site search and analysis, primarily targeting housebuilders, developers, and land buyers. Direct peer with overlapping site identification and assessment tooling, focused more on the developer/land buyer side rather than the council side of the market.
• TerraQuest: UK provider of land and property data solutions, GIS, and planning services to local government and developers. Direct peer with overlapping site identification, geospatial analysis, and planning workflow capabilities, with a comparable mix of public sector and developer clients.
• Landmark Information Group: UK provider of property, environmental, and land data, including the LandInsight platform for site finding and development analysis. Direct peer with overlapping focus on site identification, land data, and developer workflows, though serving more of the property developer side of the market.
• Idox Group: UK-listed software vendor serving local government with planning, regulatory, land charges, and document management solutions. Direct peer sharing Urban Intelligence's UK council customer base and overlapping digital planning product capabilities, but as part of a much broader gov-tech portfolio.

Others

• GeoPlace: UK joint venture between Ordnance Survey and the Local Government Association providing national address and street data infrastructure. Adjacent data infrastructure provider whose outputs (UPRN, USRN, address data) underpin UK council planning workflows and are integrated into PlaceMaker's site data layers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/urbaninteluk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urban-intelligence-uk

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban Intelligence