At Civity, we help landowners, developers, and planning authorities deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes under the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) framework. One essential document that underpins the long-term success of a BNG project is the Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP).
In this guide, we answer the key question: What is a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan? and provide a practical overview of how these plans work, what they must include, and how they support both on site gains and off site biodiversity units in BNG delivery.
What is a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan? A Practical Guide for BNG Projects
A Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) is a document that sets out how newly created or enhanced habitats will be managed and monitored over time to achieve the intended biodiversity outcomes. Depending on the habitats proposed, they may form a key part of a developer’s biodiversity gain plan and must be submitted post-consent to discharge the biodiversity gain condition for projects subject to the mandatory biodiversity net gain requirement. HMMP are also required to determine how BNG Habitat banks will be managed and monitored across the 30+ year management period.
The HMMP outlines:
- How each habitat will be created or enhanced
- The objectives for that habitat
- The methods and frequency of monitoring
- Corrective actions if targets are not met
- Roles and responsibilities (e.g. land owner, responsible body, or competent professional)
Why Are HMMPs Required?
BNG is not just about calculating a net increase in biodiversity value using the statutory biodiversity metric—it’s about ensuring those gains are delivered and maintained over the long term. That’s where management and monitoring become crucial.
The HMMP ensures that both on site and off site gains are managed effectively for a minimum of 30 years, as required by the Environment Act. It also provides assurance to the local planning authority or relevant responsible body that a legally secured plan is in place to support ongoing improvements.
When Is an HMMP Required?
An HMMP may be required whenever habitat creation or habitat enhancement is used to generate biodiversity units as part of a development’s net gain delivery.
Required when:
- On development at different scale; mostly the medium- large developments, however smaller developments may still have nice habitats on site and may require a HMMP
- Devising a BNG Habitat Bank scheme
For small sites, a simplified approach using the small sites metric may be allowed, but an HMMP is still expected in a standardised and consistent format when requested by the LPA.
Key Components of a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan
A well-prepared HMMP follows a standardised format and includes the following elements:
1. Overview and Objectives
- Site location and context
- Baseline habitats and condition
- Constraints for habitat creation and enhancement
- Target condition or outcomes for each habitat
2. Habitat Details
- A clear table of proposed habitat types referencing how many units are to be produced
- Habitat condition targets
- Timelines for habitat establishment
3. Management Proposals
- Site-specific actions to maintain and enhance habitats
- Seasonal considerations (e.g. cutting regimes, grazing, scrub control)
- Addressing existing habitat pressures
4. Monitoring Plan
- Frequency and methods for monitoring habitat condition
- How to monitor habitats against targets
- Clear triggers for review and remedial actions
5. Roles and Responsibilities
- Who will manage the site (e.g. landowner, third-party, land managers)
- Oversight from a Local Planning Authority or responsible body
6. Review and Reporting
- How the local authority or relevant responsible body will review management proposals
- When and how reports must be submitted
- Adjustments in response to findings or site changes
7. Legal and Planning Context
- Reference to the conservation covenant, or SE106
- Reference to the relevant planning permission (if the HMMP relates to significant on-site gains)
How HMMPs Work with Other Documents
When a HMMP is required to assist in discharging the biodiversity gain condition it may be submitted as a separate document or companion document to the biodiversity gain plan. In all cases, the HMMP must align with the metrics and outcomes promised in the gain plan and reflect the biodiversity gain hierarchy.
Where off-site biodiversity gains are delivered, the HMMP must reference the relevant site for any legal restrictions.
For a refresher on how additionality plays into off-site delivery, see our guide: What is Additionality in BNG? Income Stacking and Eligibility Explained.
Securing Gains Through Legal Agreements
To ensure long-term delivery, HMMPs are secured via:
- SE106 Agreements with a Local Planning Authority (to both secure on-site gains and to secure offsite habitat banks sites)
- Conservation covenants with a responsible body (to secure offsite habitat banks sites)
These legal agreements guarantee delivery over the 30-year management period with enforceable conditions.
Learn how we work with landowners to manage legal agreements in our post on BNG Habitat Banks.
Who Should Prepare the HMMP?
An HMMP should be prepared by a competent professional with relevant ecological expertise and experience in BNG delivery. This ensures that:
- The monitoring plan template is fit-for-purpose
- Assessment criteria are realistic and evidence-based
- Monitoring aligns with expectations from DEFRA and the statutory biodiversity metric
For landowners or habitat providers looking to sell off-site units, Civity offers an end-to-end service and will take responsibility for assessing your land and writing the HMMP tailored to your landholding. Civity will then liaise with the Responsible Body/LPA to secure a SE106/Conservation Covenant and then organise the registration of the land on the BNG Register. Civity is your ecological partner for the entire 30-year period, acting as the monitoring ecologist and being responsible for the selling of biodiversity units. Visit our landowners page to learn more.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
From our experience across dozens of BNG projects, here are frequent HMMP issues we note:
- Vague or non-specific management proposals
- Lack of clarity about roles and long-term management
- Over-ambitious goals for habitat creation
- Failure to coordinate across other sites or mitigation obligations
- HMMP is not updated to reflect changes in planning permission or site conditions
If you are to deliver significant on-site gains, our advice is to start your HMMP early in the planning process and ensure it’s reviewed with your ecological consultant, legal advisor, and, where needed, local planning authority.
A Note on Format and Templates
As part of efforts to ensure a standardised and consistent format, government guidance recommends using a separate template or structure to maintain clarity. At Civity, we produce for our clients a proven monitoring plan template and editable framework that reflects current BNG best practice.
You can also access Natural England’s Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan Guidance for further information.
Final Thoughts: Embedding Management and Monitoring in BNG
A well-prepared HMMP is the linchpin for delivering and sustaining net gain. It transforms a planning application into a long-term commitment to improve biodiversity. Whether you’re working with on-site gains or off-site biodiversity units, your HMMP must be robust, realistic, and ready for review.
