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At Robinson & Hall, we acknowledge the many advantages that Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers, including its rapid transformation of how businesses operate and how individuals make important decisions. From providing faster access to information and increased accuracy to improving customer experience and cost efficiency, AI has undoubtedly brought significant benefits. However, we also believe that it is important to highlight the potential pitfalls associated with an overreliance on this technology.

Lack of Human Judgement

AI cannot replace the nuanced, experiential judgement of Chartered Surveyors, Planners, or Rural Consultants, especially when dealing with specific matters relating to:

• Contextual application of planning policies and precedents
• Boundary disputes
• Heritage or conservation issues
• Complicated land promotion strategies
• Agricultural tenancy matters, etc
• Valuations

Whereas AI provides information, it cannot interpret context in the same manner that a professional can.

Data Quality Issues

AI is only as good as the data on which it is trained. If the data is outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate, the advice generated may be misleading. At Robinson & Hall, we are increasingly experiencing a trend with some of our clients in this respect.

In property and planning, outdated information can lead to:

• Incorrect valuations
• Misunderstood planning constraints and appropriate mitigation measures tailored to your site’s circumstances
• Missing out on clear opportunities suitable for your individual circumstances
• Poorly informed investment decisions

Human verification is essential.

Limited Understanding of UK Planning

Local planning policies, case law, and site-specific considerations require:

• Physical site appraisals and a face-to face meeting with the client
• Knowledge of local authority practices
• Interpretation of subtle policy language

AI cannot replicate the real-world insight of experienced planning professionals who have dealt with councils, committees, and appeals for years.

Privacy and Confidentiality Concerns

Using AI tools may involve inputting sensitive information, and without careful management, this can create risks related to:

• Data protection
• Commercial confidentiality
• GDPR compliance

Professional advisers understand how to handle sensitive information securely, something not guaranteed by all AI platforms.

AI Can Present Information with Confidence, Even When It Is Incorrect

AI is known for occasionally generating outputs that sound authoritative but are factually incorrect.

This potentially exposes you to risk, especially in the following areas:

• Legal interpretations
• Planning policy summaries
• Landlord/tenant advice
• Valuation data

Case Study

Recently, we provided advice to one of our clients regarding how to secure a planning permission which was about to expire. The client checked our advice against AI with a view of finding a cheaper option to achieve this goal. We reviewed the AI advice and identified clear and obvious errors, notably, the following:

1. AI suggested that a fresh permission could be issued by the council upon submission of an application to vary the time-limit condition, i.e a condition which stipulates the expiry date of the permission, normally 3 years.

Our response: There is no provision in planning law to extend the expiry date of the permission through an application to vary the time-limit condition.

1. AI advised that the application fees payable to the council to process such an application would be considerably less than what we had calculated using the Planning Portal fee calculator, i.e £234 compared to £32,000.

Our response: Since AI made an error in recommending the wrong type of application, the fee suggested by AI would not have been correct anyway. Planning application fees were revised by the Government on the 1^st April 2025 and AI did not pick this up.

1. Our client was advised by AI that applying for a certificate of lawfulness to confirm that development had started before the permission expired was an unnecessary expense.

Our response: Increasingly, lenders require proof of lawful commencement of development and the only authoritative evidence which they would normally accept is a certificate of lawfulness. The absence of one could prove to be a deal breaker or could delay the process.

Always verify AI-generated content with a qualified professional.

Our Recommendation 

We recommend a balanced approach. When AI is used alongside expert professional advice, it can be hugely beneficial. However, substituting human expertise for AI can come with significant risks and costs.

For more information or to find out how Robinson & Hall can help you, please contact 01234 352201.