Reasons for a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan
After the builders leave and your planning project is officially complete, a development site needs to be properly maintained and managed. For instance, new trees will need watering, wildflower meadows will need cutting at the right time, and wildlife habitats for protected species will need to be overseen in the right way. If none of these things happen when they’re meant to, you could fall short of biodiversity goals and cause the landscape to fail, and you could even breach your planning conditions.
If you need a long-term ‘how-to’ guide on ensuring that the living parts of your development site thrive for years to come, the best option would be to get a landscape and ecological management plan (LEMP). Not only will it guarantee that you’ve correctly complied with planning regulations, wildlife legislation and environmental considerations, but it will also secure your investment and satisfy any remaining qualms from the local planning authority.
What is a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan?
A landscape and ecological management plan (LEMP) is a long-term document that helps developers maintain the ecological features and natural assets of a site into future years, more specifically setting parameters for the next five, ten or even 30 years.
In simple terms, it sets out exactly what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and who is specifically responsible for managing the landscape and ecology of a site after construction is finished.
With a plan, developers and other people involved in planning can see a simplified process for applying long-term site care. It turns the approved landscape design and biodiversity goals into a practical and easy-to-follow instruction manual for the site owner, a residents’ association or an appointment management company.
Often better known simply as an LEMP, a plan is also sometimes called a landscape ecological management plan, landscape and ecology management plan, landscape ecological maintenance and management plan, landscape and environmental management plan, or landscape and habitat management plan.
Components of an LEMP
Although each plan will be specific to the site, an LEMP will typically include certain features, such as:
- Aims and Objectives of the Plan
- Key Roles and Responsibilities
- Management Prescriptions
- Monitoring Schedule
- Remedial Measures
When Would You Need a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan?
It would be fair to say that you will almost always need an LEMP to discharge a planning condition, especially in the case of complex sites, developments with significant green space, and any projects that are legally required to deliver a habitat management and monitoring plan (HMMP) as part of a biodiversity net gain (BNG) assessment.
Whenever a local council grants planning permission, they want to be certain that the new landscape and any promised ecological enhancements will be delivered and, more importantly, survive the test of time. Using an LEMP, the local planning authority will be able to get the assurances they need from a trustworthy and legally binding document.
Role in Other Plans
Rather than being a document in isolation, an LEMP is actually the action plan that pulls together information from several other key documents, such as:
- Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP)
- Landscape Design / Planting Plan
- Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA)
- Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Report
Connection to a CEMP
The simplest way to understand the link between a landscape and ecological management plan (LEMP) and a construction environmental management plan (CEMP) is to think about the timing.
On one hand, a CEMP is the builder’s rulebook during construction, focused on protecting the site from dust, noise, pollution and immediate harm.
On the other hand, an LEMP is the long-term gardening guide that takes over the day the construction finishes.
A CEMP and LEMP are two sides of the same coin, with one supporting natural features during the build phase and the other supporting natural features over all phases in the future.
The LEMP Layout and Steps
To get approval from the local authority, a landscape and ecological management plan (LEMP) needs to be clear, logical and practical.
It can’t be just a few notes, instead needing to be a robust plan that a site manager can pick up and follow for as much as the next 30 years.
The team at Arbtech follows a proven five-step process to create plans that are effective, compliant and easy to understand.
Fundamental Parts of a Plan
1. Desk Study and Scoping
Starting the process by reviewing all approved documents, such as the landscape plans and reports from the ecological impact assessment and biodiversity net gain assessment.
The specific wording of the planning condition from the local planning authority will be taken into consideration, as this will confirm exactly what the council needs the LEMP to achieve.
2. Site Assessment
Visiting the site to understand the standard and circumstances of the current conditions.
An ecological consultant will use the visit to confirm the existing habitats for present protected species, soil types and any retained features that will fall under the new management plan.
3. Drafting and Management Aims
Working with developers to establish simple and measurable goals for each part of the site.
Examples of natural features that could be added to the site to hit ecological targets include amenity grassland, native hedgerow and wildflower meadow to cater to possible protected species.
4. Writing the Prescriptions
Creating the task-by-task schedule for all management activities, from planting and watering to long-term mowing or coppicing.
All of the past steps will work towards this step, with writing the prescriptions being the core stage in the process.
5. Submission and Discharge
Assembling the final landscape and ecological management plan, complete with clear-to-read maps and timetables.
With the LEMP complete, it can now be submitted to the local planning authority in order to formally discharge the planning condition.
Landscape and Ecology Management Plan Guidance from Our Team
As we’ve made clear throughout this page, an LEMP is a highly detailed document that has a long-lasting legal impact on your site and remains within the guidelines of local wildlife trusts, the Environment Agency and Natural England / Natural Resources Wales.
It isn’t just a box-ticking exercise to appease the local authorities; it’s a master plan that puts guarantees around your development’s ability to remain an asset and avoid becoming a liability.
We specialise in various areas to help clients with all sorts of different obstacles that appear in planning. The services we provide extend to landscape and ecological management plans, and with our help, you can get it right the first time.
For more reasons to choose Arbtech to deliver your LEMP, check out the information below:
Who Creates a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan?
An LEMP needs to be written by someone who understands both the aftercare, horticulture and planting involved with the landscape and the biodiversity and habitat creation involved with ecology. On top of this, the professional needs to be experienced in conducting surveys and creating reports for planning, as well as having the knowledge of how the planning system works and what will be expected for planning permission to be granted by your local planning authority.
Our team is made up of experienced ecologists and ecological consultants who have written hundreds of such plans. Whoever you’re allocated for your site will understand what the local authorities want from you, what needs to go into a plan for it to be effective, and what instructions the site manager needs over the future years. All of our consultants are fully qualified and insured, and our coverage extends to all over the UK, giving each and every client a local expert.
Likely Landscape and Ecological Management Plan Price
In the same way that we price up our CEMPs, the cost of an LEMP is also based on the specific needs of the planning project.
A simple plan for a small housing site with a few new planting beds, for example, will be different from a complex 30-year plan for a large development with multiple habitats of meadows, ponds and woodlands for protected species.
It is understandable that you would want to see a quote before committing to us, and with that in mind, we provide a fixed quote that includes everything you need. Our method of pricing up the services we offer means that the price you see is the price you pay, with no hidden fees for additional site visits or revisions to plans.
Speak to Arbtech About an LEMP
Maybe you know that you need a landscape and ecological management plan or it could be that you’re not certain whether or not an LEMP is needed and just need advice. Either way, our team can guide you, helped by our comprehensive understanding of what’s expected from you according to your local planning authority, wildlife legislation safeguarding protected species, and relevant regulators such as the Environment Agency and Natural England / Natural Resources Wales.
Getting a quote from our team is fast and free. Either call us directly, send us an email or fill in the contact form on our website, and we can work out the likely cost of an LEMP for your site and situation. You can even send us a copy of your site plans and the conditions of planning consent. With that, we will be able to create your estimate quicker and easier, sending you back a no-obligation quote the same day and helping you with setting up your development for the future.
