PlaceChangers is all about enabling useful and constructive conversations around architectural designs and planning proposals. Our interactive community consultation tool—and its supporting features—help at every stage: from capturing baseline community needs and early inspirations, through to more informed development proposals rooted in local context.

One exciting and fast-developing area is the use of 3D digital models in online consultations.

Unlike static graphics or physical models, interactive 3D architectural models allow communities to explore emerging designs online—improving transparency, clarity, and engagement.

2022 - Swindale Drive

One of the first PlaceChangers consultations using 3D models. IFC-format house type models enabled the Council to present placement, elevations, and detailed views in an accessible way.

It was still crude but it worked. Respondents engaged to surprising detail with the operation of the site, indirectly proving that this model works to elicit thoughtful and constructive feedback.

2023 - Hebburn Extra Care

Karbon Homes’ consultation added realism by applying textures to model elements and overlaying satellite mapping for greater site context.

Detail and presentation of the model within its context gave a clear impression of the scale of planned developments, placement within the emerging plan, and relation to nearby walking connections.

2025 - Land North of Emsworth Road

Next up, most recently, Gentoo Homes arranged a large masterplan consultation for Land North of Emsworth Road. PlaceChangers platform had evolved and the visual display improved, too. For this project, each model was individually placed and a guided tour highlighted specific house types on site, providing immediate clarity for the emerging quantum and layout.

Future roadmap

The future of using 3D models in consultations is bright. Just in early 2025, PlaceChangers was invited by DB MindBox, an innovation agency for DB, to come in and prototype the future of 3D consultations in a week-long sprint in Berlin.

From this the direction of travel looked clear. There were clear upsides here for public consultation.

BIM models use in consultation could cut out hours of manual setup of consultations
Likewise, if a model changed during consultation periods, it would be a lot simpler to update the respective consultation, too.
Future commenting capabilities of BIM, such as BCF standards, could be extended to serve as consultation points
Responses from members of the public could actually flow back into a BIM design process and backend.

Where are we now

All examples mentioned above used PlaceChangers original 3D viewer technology, with the benefit of a maturing ecosystem of 3D map providers, and additional performance optimisations to models used in this consultation.

As we move forward, 3D consultations on PlaceChangers interactive consultation tool will just get better. In 2025, delivery partners and end clients can draw on a new and enhanced 3D consultation experience with greater visual clarity and immersion.

New 3D viewer on PlaceChangers facilitating 3D photo realistic tiles, model placements, and interactive view points adapting to location and bearing.

A new 3D viewer on PlaceChangers interactive consultation tool is gradually being rolled out, which provides:

3D photorealistic site context for greater realism, ease of orientation, and detail
Upgraded guided tours which adapt to the view direction of street view locations
Better shading and textures on models
Optimisations for online-display and auto-conversion of BIM models to web browser performant format

The future roadmap includes further exciting enhancements, including:

Integration with BIM BCF view points for automatic setup of consultation content based on model detail
Optional interaction with model elements
And more