Privacy Policy

Future Builds is operated by Noviom Labs Limited. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you use the Future Builds mobile app, website, developer portal and related services.

Future Builds helps users search planning applications, save favourites, receive notifications, register interest, react to applications, view company information and, for company users, claim applications and manage related content.

If you have any questions, contact us at [email protected].

Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly, information created when you use the service, and limited technical information needed to operate the app.

• Account information: name, email address, phone number, password in hashed form, account type, role, profile settings and notification preferences.
• Company information: company name, company number, website, address, postcode, company role or type, biography, staff invitations, staff membership and claimed application records.
• Planning activity: saved applications, postcode favourites, likes, dislikes, registered interest, claimed applications, application summaries, uploaded site media and notes connected to your account or company.
• Subscription information: plan type, subscription status, billing identifiers, Stripe customer identifiers and payment status. We do not store full card numbers.
• Location and search information: postcodes you enter, approximate areas used for search, radius preferences and, if you grant device permission, your current location for location-based searches.
• Notifications: push notification tokens, notification history and information needed to send alerts about saved postcodes, favourite applications and account activity.
• Reports and moderation: reports of inappropriate content, related evidence, report outcome and moderation actions.
• Technical information: IP address, device type, operating system, app version, browser type, logs, error information and security events.

Third-Party and Public Data

The app displays planning application information from third-party and public planning data sources. This may include application references, descriptions, locations, status, dates, documents, images, applicant or agent information and other planning records made available through external planning data services.

We also use mapping, analytics, advertising, push notification, payment and hosting providers to operate the service. These providers may process information according to their own terms and privacy notices.

How We Use Information

• To create, authenticate and manage user accounts.
• To provide postcode, map and planning application search.
• To save favourites, interests, reactions and notification preferences.
• To show company profiles, claimed applications, company summaries and uploaded media.
• To send app, email or push notifications about saved postcodes, favourite applications, account updates and service messages.
• To process subscriptions, payments and access to paid features.
• To moderate uploaded content and respond to reports of misuse or inappropriate material.
• To keep the service secure, prevent fraud, investigate misuse and enforce our Terms.
• To improve the app, fix bugs and understand usage at an aggregate level.
• To comply with legal, tax, accounting and regulatory obligations.

Legal Basis for Processing

Where UK GDPR or similar privacy laws apply, we process personal information because it is necessary to perform our contract with you, because you have given consent, because we have a legitimate interest in operating and improving the service, or because we need to comply with legal obligations.

Advertising and Analytics

The app may show advertising, including banner advertising provided by advertising networks such as Google AdMob. Advertising providers may use device identifiers, advertising identifiers, app activity, approximate location or other technical information to deliver and measure ads, subject to your device settings and consent choices.

You can limit ad tracking or reset your advertising identifier through your iOS or Android device settings. Where required, the app will request permission before using tracking technologies for advertising.

Payments and Subscriptions

Subscriptions and payments are processed by Stripe, Apple or Google, depending on where you purchase. We receive limited billing information such as subscription status, plan, renewal or cancellation status and transaction identifiers. Full payment card details are handled by the payment provider and are not stored by Future Builds.

User Content and Moderation

Company users may add company information, site summaries, application highlights and media. Users may also register interest, react to applications and report content. Content linked to company or application pages may be visible to other users where the feature is designed to be public or read-only.

We may remove, restrict or review content that appears unlawful, misleading, abusive, infringing, inappropriate or contrary to our Terms. Users can report content in the app or by emailing [email protected].

When We Share Information

We do not sell personal information. We share information only where needed to operate the service, comply with the law, protect users or provide features you use.

• Service providers: hosting, database, payment, email, push notification, analytics, advertising, mapping, crash reporting and support providers.
• Other users: company profile information, claimed applications, public company summaries, site media and some interaction counts may be visible inside the service.
• Legal and safety: regulators, law enforcement, courts or other parties where required by law or necessary to protect rights, safety and security.
• Business transfers: if Future Builds or Noviom Labs Limited is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganisation or sale of assets.

Retention

We keep personal information for as long as needed to provide the service, maintain records, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes and enforce agreements. Account, subscription and company records are kept while your account is active. Some billing, tax, security and audit records may be retained for longer where required by law.

If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymise personal information unless we need to keep limited records for legal, security, fraud prevention, accounting or dispute purposes. Public planning application data from third-party sources may remain available because it is not created by Future Builds and may be re-fetched from the source.

Account Deletion

You can request account deletion from inside the app where available, through your web profile where available, or by following the instructions at /delete-account.

Deleting your account removes your personal profile and access tokens. It may also remove or detach favourites, saved postcodes, interests, device tokens and personal account data. Some company, subscription, transaction, moderation and legal records may be retained where necessary.

Your Choices and Rights

• You can update many account details in the app or portal.
• You can turn notifications on or off in the app and device settings.
• You can deny location permission or use postcode search instead.
• You can request access, correction, deletion, restriction or portability of your personal information.
• You can object to certain processing or withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

To exercise your rights, email [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.

Children

Future Builds is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us and we will take appropriate steps to remove it.

International Transfers

Our service providers may process information in the United Kingdom, European Economic Area, United States or other countries. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for international transfers.

Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information, including authentication controls, encrypted connections, access controls and monitoring. No online service is completely secure, so you should use a strong password and keep your account details private.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the effective date and, where appropriate, notify users in the app, by email or on the website.

Contact

Noviom Labs Limited
Operator of Future Builds
Email: [email protected]