Background

Nottingham City Council has worked with Symology since 2017, initially replacing a competitor system with our Insight solution to better support its Street Works functions. Over time, the council’s Street Works team, made up of three officers responsible for permits and several inspectors, became confident and efficient users of the system.

In 2024, they made a forward-thinking decision to move to Aurora, Symology’s next-generation platform. While upcoming changes to the Street Manager APIs provided a natural transition point, Nottingham saw Aurora as much more than a necessary upgrade. Instead, they viewed it as a chance to take advantage of improved technology, streamline their day-to-day work, and future-proof their processes. As early adopters, they wanted to be at the front of the queue to benefit from Aurora’s enhancements.

Challenge 

Although Nottingham approached the move positively, being among the first to migrate presented some understandable uncertainties. The team needed the new system to be operational and familiar from day one, with no room for delays or disruption to permit processing.

There were also some cultural challenges, particularly among inspectors used to established tools and processes. Getting everyone on board with new mobile-based working methods would be essential. More broadly, the system had to support high volumes of activity, ensure compliance, and keep up with ongoing legislative changes, all while maintaining or improving service levels.

Solution 

Aurora was selected not out of obligation but because the council saw its value. The platform offered a clear step forward: a faster, more intuitive user interface, with better performance, and built-in flexibility to adapt to the team’s specific ways of working.

The Street Works team particularly valued:

  • Real-time notifications for immediate works, potential FPNs, and overruns-helping to eliminate deemed permits.
  • Widgets and saved views, allowing team members to flag permit ownership or status (e.g. “under review” or “awaiting TM”) and save time.
  • Integrated mapping and Google Street View, giving fast access to location context without switching systems.
  • Aurora Mobile, which inspectors can now use to conduct and record inspections directly from site.
  • Support from Symology throughout the process, particularly through tailored training and regular webinars, ensured the team felt prepared and in control of the change.

Implementation 

The team described the transition to Aurora as “seamless.” Although they expected some disruption, the system was live, configured, and usable immediately. The three core users quickly adapted, and inspectors, although initially hesitant, are now using the Aurora Mobile app with confidence.

Behind the scenes, Symology’s preparatory work meant most of the heavy lifting had already been done. According to the team, the process “just worked,” and they were able to pick up where they left off, with enhanced tools at their fingertips.

Results 

Since moving to Aurora, Nottingham City Council has seen significant benefits:

  • Zero deemed permits thanks to real-time alerts and prompt action.
  • Improved productivity, with faster workflows and quicker access to permit information.
  • Better compliance, with fewer FPNs and overruns due to enhanced oversight.
  • Time savings, especially around coordination meetings, as reports and views can be generated instantly.
  • Mobile inspections, now fully embedded, are improving efficiency and speeding up photo capture and uploads.
  • The team also reports better internal collaboration, thanks to features like permit tagging and user-specific views, and a noticeable improvement in how the platform supports their day-to-day work.

“The system supports how we work. We’ve tailored it around our processes, and it just makes life easier.”

Michala Stanley, Technical Officer - Network Co-ordination

Looking Ahead

The council is now investigating Aurora’s new functionality to manage Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs), and is exploring options around Lane Rental, in line with DfT guidance. They’re confident that Aurora will support both, just as it has with previous changes like performance-based inspections.

Looking further ahead, the team is also considering the potential of open data visibility, aerial photography, and other Aurora enhancements to improve coordination and oversight further.

Nottingham City Council’s migration to Aurora is a strong example of proactive digital transformation. By embracing change early, the council has gained a platform that’s faster, smarter, and more responsive to industry change.

The team feel fully supported by Symology and consistently see improvements that make their jobs easier and their service more effective. As one team member put it, “We don’t have to worry, Aurora keeps up with the legislation, and the system just works.”

“It’s the best system we’ve had — everything we need is there, and I’d definitely recommend it.”
Donna Bell, Technical Officer – Network Co-ordination.

With a flexible, scalable platform in place, Nottingham is well-positioned to meet future challenges and continue delivering a high-performing, compliant Street Works service.

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