Habitat Action Plans
Focused ecological frameworks that secure, enhance and monitor key habitats — aligning your development with biodiversity policy and keeping planning predictable across the UK.
Do you need a Habitat Action Plan?
If your development affects important habitats such as grassland, woodland, wetland or riparian corridors, your planning authority may require a Habitat Action Plan (HAP).
These plans demonstrate exactly how habitats will be protected, enhanced and managed to meet Biodiversity Net Gain and policy objectives.
What is a Habitat Action Plan?
A HAP sets out the actions needed to protect, restore and enhance habitats during and after development.
It links site-specific ecology to planning conditions, showing planners how biodiversity objectives will be delivered and monitored over time.
Trigger points — signs your site needs a HAP
These indicators suggest your site might require more than a basic walkover and may attract LPA scrutiny:
- habitats of medium or high distinctiveness recorded in your PEA or BNG
- areas identified as S41 priority habitats or within Nature Recovery Networks
- mitigation or enhancement conditions applied to multiple parcels
- post-development management obligations lasting beyond one season
- complex sites where multiple habitat types interact (e.g. grassland–wetland mosaics)
Under the Environment Act 2021, NERC Act 2006 (S41) and NPPF Section 15, LPAs must ensure developments conserve and enhance priority habitats. A HAP demonstrates this duty has been addressed transparently, giving planners confidence that ecological gains will be delivered.
What We Deliver
We keep guidance clear and planning-ready — supporting predictable project delivery.
| Service Component | Purpose | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Species Review | Identify target species and ecological context | Defined scope for actions |
| Impact Assessment | Evaluate risks to populations | Evidence for proportionate response |
| Mitigation Design | Develop avoidance and reduction measures | Legal and planning compliance |
| Enhancement Strategy | Add long-term biodiversity value | Quantifiable uplift for BNG |
| Implementation Plan | Set methods, timing and responsibility | Predictable delivery sequence |
| Monitoring Framework | Track effectiveness over time | Transparent reporting for LPAs |
| Reporting & Sign-off | Produce planning-ready documentation | Defensible submission evidence |
How it Works
Our process is designed to remove friction and keep decisions moving.
Scope & Baseline
We review your PEA/BNG data and confirm which habitats require protection or enhancement.
Action Planning
We set out practical habitat creation and management measures linked to construction and maintenance phases.
Implementation & Monitoring
We define timelines, responsibilities and measurable success criteria to maintain compliance through condition discharge.
Each report follows CIEEM and Natural England methodology, ensuring evidence stands up anywhere in the UK.
Timing & Programme Integrations
Habitat Action Plans can be produced year-round once baseline data is available, but the surveys that inform them are seasonal.
Botanical Surveys
April - September
Bird Surveys
Year-round for scoping; nesting activity March–August
Reptile Surveys
Only April, May and September
Bat Surveys
PRA: Year-round Emergence: May - August
GCN Surveys
eDNA April – June / activity mid-March – June
Early instruction secures the survey window and keeps ecology off the critical path.
That’s how project control is maintained.
Why planning officers request HAPs
A robust HAP resolves ecological risks early and strengthens planning credibility.
Without one, projects risk:
- conditions being deferred or refused
- further consultation with statutory bodies
- extended determination timelines
- enforcement pressure at post-construction stage
HAPs support compliance with:
- Environment Act 2021 (mandatory BNG and habitat enhancement)
- NERC Act 2006 S41 (priority habitats and species)
- Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981
- NPPF Section 15 (conserve and enhance the natural environment)
- Local Nature Recovery and Biodiversity Policies
Its purpose is simple: provide clear, auditable evidence that your project supports biodiversity while keeping the programme stable.
Our Approach
We integrate habitat planning with design, construction and long-term management from day one.
Preparing your HAP alongside design mitigates revisions later and ensures survey evidence flows straight into management delivery.
Our planning-ready HAP includes:
- baseline habitat data and condition assessment
- mitigation, creation and enhancement actions
- delivery responsibilities and sequencing
- long-term management and monitoring strategy
- measurable outcomes for BNG and policy tracking
Our ecologists follow CIEEM standards and DEFRA Metric 4.0 guidance, mapping actions directly to planning milestones so you always know what needs to happen, when and why.
How this supports your project
A well-timed HAP turns mitigation into measurable uplift – strengthening your planning submission and preventing late redesign.
It supports your project by:
- clarifying habitat responsibilities before design lock-in
- aligning ecological actions with planning milestones and programme sequencing
- meeting policy duties under the NPPF, Environment Act 2021 and local biodiversity strategy
- defining realistic enhancement measures early, before they become conditions that push scheduling
- providing habitat-level evidence that integrates with BNG, SAPs, CEMP and EIA ecology
- preventing rework by showing how habitats will be protected, enhanced and monitored through the full development cycle
- providing long-term management planning that satisfies both planners and contractors
- removing uncertainty for design teams, landscape leads and project managers
Early clarity maintains schedule stability. Later discovery creates delay.
This is where foresight pays off.
Case Insight
Your Next Step
Get the ecological clarity that keeps your design on track.
Phone: 0800 494 7479
Email: [email protected]
HAP FAQ - Planning and Programme Clarity
Do all sites need a Habitat Action Plan?
Only those affecting priority or condition-sensitive habitats. We confirm from baseline data.
How is a HAP different from a Species Action Plan
A HAP focuses on habitats grassland, woodland and wetland, whilst a SAP targets individual species. Many projects require both.
When should the HAP be produced?
As soon as baseline data or BNG outputs are available. Early drafting keeps conditions proportionate.
Does a HAP satisfy BNG requirements?
Partly. It provides the management framework that underpins your BNG delivery plan.
How long must a HAP run?
Usually 30 years to align with BNG obligations, though shorter terms may apply to non-BNG habitats.
Who approves the HAP?
Local planning authorities — often with Natural England or county ecologist review.
Can contractors follow it easily?
Yes. Each action is written as a task sequence with responsibility and timing clearly defined.
What information do you need to quote?
Boundary, PEA/BNG reports, and target planning dates. We’ll confirm scope and delivery windows the same day.
