The Planning Portal is a website that was established by UK Government in 2002 to allow planning applications in England and Wales to be processed electronically. It later added guidance and information content, interactive guides, an application service for Building Regulations approval and the ability to purchase site location plans. The Planning Portal provides a conduit between those submitting planning applications (such as planning consultants, architects and developers) and the local planning authority who will determine the application. Timeline of the Planning Portal service.