Site screening doesn't have to mean hours of trawling through council portals and PDFs. With a structured approach and the right tools, you can go from postcode to go/no-go in under 30 minutes.

Why 30 minutes matters

Early-stage site assessment is about filtering. You're not producing a full due diligence report yet — you're deciding whether the site is worth that investment. Spending half a day on every lead is unsustainable. A 30-minute screen lets you triage more sites and focus deep work on the ones that pass.

Step 1: Get the basics (5 min)

Start with a single address or postcode. Pull a consistent briefing that includes: - Planning designations (green belt, AONB, conservation area, etc.) - Flood zone and surface water risk - Listed buildings and heritage constraints - Any obvious red flags (e.g. SSSI, TPOs)

Use a report that cites every data point. If you can't see the source, you can't trust the screen.

Step 2: Red / Amber / Green (10 min)

Assign simple risk levels to the main constraint groups. Red = likely deal-breaker or significant cost. Amber = needs investigation. Green = no major barrier from this layer. Don't try to be precise; you're screening, not advising.

Step 3: Local context (10 min)

Skim local plan policies that apply to the area. Check recent comparable applications if available. Note any obvious local political or policy pressures (e.g. neighbourhood plan, housing target shortfall). This is where a short AI commentary can help — as long as it's clearly labelled and separated from factual data.

Step 4: Decide (5 min)

On the basis of the pack, decide: deep dive, park, or pass. Document the reason in one line. Move on.

What to avoid

- Don't treat the 30-minute pack as a substitute for full due diligence. - Don't rely on unsourced summaries for red/amber/green — always trace back to a cited fact. - Don't skip the "decide and document" step; it's what makes the process repeatable.

SiteSift is built for this workflow: one consistent output, every constraint sourced, AI commentary clearly separated. Try three reports free and see how it fits your pipeline.