Habitat creation and enhancement
Practical habitat design to meet planning and biodiversity requirements.
Habitat creation and enhancement are often required as part of planning conditions, biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements or ecological mitigation. These measures ensure that ecological impacts are addressed and that developments deliver measurable environmental improvements.
We provide clear, practical habitat creation and management plans that meet planning requirements and are realistic to deliver on site. Our focus is on proportionate solutions that work for your project, your land and your long-term responsibilities.
Whether you are delivering small-scale enhancements for a householder development or a larger habitat strategy for a multi-plot site, we explain what is required and produce plans that planning authorities can confidently approve.
Habitat creation and enhancement involves designing and delivering measures that avoid, reduce or compensate for ecological impacts, or that improve biodiversity value over time.
Planning authorities rely on these plans to ensure that ecological commitments are deliverable, proportionate and capable of being maintained in the long term.
What is habitat creation, enhancement and management?
Habitat creation, enhancement or management is commonly required where:
A planning condition requires ecological mitigation or enhancement
Biodiversity net gain must be demonstrated
Habitats will be lost, disturbed or fragmented
Protected species mitigation is needed
Long-term ecological management is required as part of approval
A legal agreement or planning obligation requires habitat delivery
When is habitat creation or enhancement required?
Not sure what you need?
Send us your plans or a brief description of your project, and we’ll confirm what is required and when.
Our habitat services
We provide all habitat design, enhancement and management services commonly required to support planning applications and discharge conditions.
Habitat creation and enhancement plans
Site-specific plans that set out how habitats will be created or improved, including:
Wildflower grassland creation
Hedgerow planting or strengthening
Tree and woodland planting
Wetland and SuDS-related habitat features
Habitat mosaics tailored to the site
Enhancements for bats, birds and pollinators
All designs are practical, proportionate and tailored to the local landscape.
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) enhancement design
Where biodiversity net gain is required, we prepare enhancement proposals that:
Are informed by UKHab survey data
Deliver the required biodiversity units
Integrate with landscape and drainage designs
Are realistic to implement and manage
These designs support BNG metric calculations and planning submissions.
Protected species habitat design
Where protected species are present, we design habitat measures to support:
Mitigation strategies
Licensing requirements
Long-term species conservation
Our designs align with current legislation and best practice guidance.
Long-term habitat management & monitoring plans (HMMPs)
Most developments require habitats to be managed over time to deliver ecological benefits.
We prepare clear, realistic habitat management plans that set out:
How habitats will be established
How they will be maintained
Monitoring requirements and responsibilities
Timescales, success criteria and reporting
Roles of landowners, managing agents or contractors
These documents are commonly required to discharge planning conditions or support legal agreements.
A planning-focused approach
Our role is to provide clear, robust surveys and reports that answer the questions planning officers and consultees expect to see, without unnecessary complexity or cost. Our reports are:
Clear – concise conclusions that address each ecological issue
Proportionate – we recommend only what is necessary for your project
Robust – based on current legislation and professional best practice
Planning-ready – structured to support efficient decision-making
Whether you are applying for a small home extension or a larger development, we explain what is required, why, and the simplest route through the planning process.
Our process
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Review your site and requirements
Send us your plans and planning context. We will confirm what habitat creation or management is required.
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Design and assessment
We assess site conditions, constraints and opportunities and design appropriate habitat measures.
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Reporting and plans
You receive clear, planning-ready documents that integrate with your wider submission.
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Ongoing support
We remain available to clarify requirements with planners, ecologists or managing agents.
Areas we cover
We provide licensing, mitigation and ecological supervision services across:
Wiltshire - Dorset - Somerset - Gloucestershire - South Wales - Oxfordshire - Berkshire - Buckinghamshire - Greater London - Surrey - Greater London - Berkshire - Buckinghamshire - West Sussex.
We can also travel to neighbouring areas by arrangement.
