What PGAT Does and Does Not Analyse
PGAT is designed to assist review of procedural and governance-related aspects of planning application records. To ensure appropriate use, it is important to be clear about the scope of analysis PGAT performs, and the areas it intentionally excludes. This distinction underpins how PGAT outputs should be read, interpreted, and applied within professional workflows.
What PGAT analyses
PGAT analyses the documented planning application record with a focus on procedural structure and governance-relevant content. This includes identifying how material is presented, referenced, and sequenced across reports and supporting documents.
In particular, PGAT examines references to decision-critical evidence, records deferral events and their stated rationale as documented, and highlights instances where material is cited but not readily accessible within the available evidence set.
Nature of the analysis performed
The analysis performed by PGAT is descriptive rather than evaluative. It records what appears in the documented record and how it is structured, without reaching conclusions as to adequacy, compliance, or propriety. Outputs are generated to support further professional review, not to determine outcomes.
What PGAT does not analyse
PGAT does not assess planning balance, policy interpretation, or the merits of an application. It does not determine whether decisions are lawful or unlawful, procedurally fair or unfair, or compliant or non-compliant with statutory or policy requirements.
PGAT also does not infer intent, motivation, or reasoning beyond what is explicitly recorded in the documentation. It does not replace professional judgment, legal analysis, or decision-making responsibility.
Why these limits exist
These limitations are intentional. By confining its role to structured analysis of the documented record, PGAT avoids substituting professional judgment and remains suitable for use as a supporting tool within established legal and planning workflows.
Implications for professional use
PGAT outputs are intended to be read as an aid to review, not as conclusions. Responsibility for interpretation, reliance, and application of findings remains with the professional user. PGAT provides structure and visibility; it does not provide determinations.