We’re pleased to welcome DEF Software to Infoshare+. DEF builds the planning, building control, land charges and highways software that councils rely on to run some of their most important statutory work, and is trusted by more than 60 local authorities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A long-established name in local government software, DEF is the ninth company to join the Infoshare+ platform.

DEF has spent more than three decades building software specifically for local government, developed alongside the councils that use it. Its customers range across county, district, borough and unitary authorities, and some have worked with the company for more than 25 years.

DEF’s software is built around three solutions:

  • MasterGov is DEF’s back-office suite and the core of what it offers. It brings together more than 20 specialist modules covering planning, building control, land charges and highways, alongside related work such as enforcement, developer contributions under Section 106, biodiversity net gain, and street naming and numbering. Each module runs on workflows the council can configure to match how it already works, with built-in mapping and document management, and DEF keeps the software up to date as legislation changes.
  • Jotter is DEF’s mobile working app. Officers can open forms, take photos and capture details while they are out on site, then sync everything straight back into MasterGov, which removes paper forms and the need to re-key information once they are back in the office.
  • DEF Cloud hosting is a fully managed service that runs MasterGov and Jotter through a standard web browser, with nothing to install. It is built on Microsoft Azure, hosted in UK data centres, and certified to Cyber Essentials Plus, with an ISO 27001 accredited data centre.

DEF is also developing Manifold, a next-generation platform due to go live in late 2026. It builds on MasterGov’s modules and adds features such as cross-module dashboards and a single, unified view of cases and actions that DEF calls a ‘worktray’.

Councils are working in a demanding environment. The rules around planning and building permission are complex and continue to grow, budgets are stretched, and there are national housebuilding targets to meet, all while residents expect quicker and clearer service. Software that handles statutory processes reliably, and adapts as the law changes, makes that workload more manageable. It is the kind of practical, everyday tool DEF has built its reputation on.

For Infoshare+, DEF brings long experience in planning and the wider statutory work councils carry out, and broadens what the platform can offer authorities across the UK. The move also extends Infoshare+’s presence in Northern Ireland and gives DEF’s customers access to a broader public sector ecosystem, along with the resources to support DEF’s product roadmap and the rollout of Manifold.

The DEF team joins Infoshare+ and will continue to support its existing customers, while working with the wider team to build on what the company has already created.

“Infoshare+ is the perfect home for our business. Over the last three decades, we have built MasterGov hand-in-hand with the local authorities we serve, and we are proud of the trust they place in us. Becoming part of Infoshare+ gives our team and our clients access to a much broader public sector ecosystem and the resources to accelerate the rollout of Manifold and our wider product roadmap.”

Graeme Cooke – Director, DEF Software

“DEF is a fantastic addition to Infoshare+. The team has built a market-leading product with a well-deserved reputation for the quality of their solution and the strength of their customer relationships. DEF’s comprehensive coverage considerably strengthens what we can offer councils across the UK. We’re excited to bring DEF into the platform and to work alongside the team to accelerate what they have already built.”

Steve Thorn – Executive Chairman, Infoshare+

For more information, please contact:

Victoria Thomason, Infoshare+ | victoria.thomason@infoshareplus.com

About Infoshare+

Infoshare+ is a UK-based public sector partner offering innovative and responsible software and data solutions. The company’s team of experienced public sector experts are trusted by hundreds of organisations across local and central government, as well as health and the emergency services. Infoshare+ focuses on empowering customers with software that enhances decision-making and helps them keep pace in a rapidly evolving landscape. To learn more, visit www.infoshareplus.com.

About DEF Software

DEF Software Limited is a leading independent software provider to the UK local authority market, with more than 30 years’ heritage. The company delivers an integrated workflow solution for local authority Planning, Building Control, Land Charges and Highways departments, supported by complementary modules covering Lead Local Flood Authorities, Ecology and Private Sector Housing. DEF serves more than 60 local authorities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and operates across the Crown Commercial Service and G-Cloud frameworks. To learn more, visit www.def.co.uk.