Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)

A Construction Environmental Management Plan, often shortened to CEMP or sometimes CEcoMP when ecology is the main focus, is a document that sets out how environmental and ecological risks will be controlled during the construction phase of a project.

While planning applications and ecological assessments typically focus on what is on site and what is proposed, the CEMP deals with what happens in between: how works will be organised, what measures will be put in place to protect sensitive habitats and species, and how legal and planning requirements will be complied with on the ground.

It turns high-level recommendations and conditions into clear, practical instructions that contractors and site teams can follow.

A CEMP is often required as a planning condition on developments where there is a risk that construction activities could harm protected species, valuable habitats, watercourses, nearby designated sites or the wider environment.

Local planning authorities may request it for schemes where ecological mitigation has been identified through a PEA, protected species surveys, EcIA or BNG work, or where there is a need to control pollution, noise, dust, lighting and site access in a sensitive area.

It is commonly associated with larger residential schemes, mixed-use developments, infrastructure projects and sites close to nature conservation designations, but it can also be requested on smaller sites where specific ecological or environmental risks have been identified.

If your decision notice includes a condition referring to a CEMP or a Construction Environmental Management Plan, you will need a clear, proportionate document in place before works start.

Our CEMP service begins with a review of your planning permission, ecological reports, method statements and any other relevant documentation, so that we understand the commitments that have already been made and the specific concerns of the planning authority.

We then work through the likely construction activities on site, from initial clearance and groundworks through to the later stages of the build, and identify where environmental and ecological risks are most significant. Using this information, we set out detailed but practical measures to control those risks. These can include how vegetation clearance will be timed and supervised, how protected species or sensitive features will be avoided or safeguarded, how materials and machinery will be stored and handled, and how pollution risks such as fuel spills, run-off and sediment will be managed.

The CEMP also explains who is responsible for implementing each measure, how site personnel will be briefed, and what monitoring or checks will be carried out to ensure that the plan is followed.

Where necessary, it can incorporate or reference method statements, species licences, BNG measures and other technical documents to keep everything consistent. The final document is written in clear, accessible language so that both the planning authority and the contractor can understand what is required, and it is structured in a way that fits comfortably within your planning condition wording and project documentation.

We see the CEMP as a crucial link between the ecological recommendations in your reports and the day-to-day reality of construction on site. Our approach is to make the plan usable for contractors while still meeting the expectations of planning officers and environmental regulators.

That means focusing on measures that are realistic for the size, type and duration of your project, and explaining them in a way that fits normal site management practices. We work collaboratively with your project manager, principal contractor and design team to ensure that ecological and environmental controls are integrated into site logistics, phasing and programming rather than bolted on as an afterthought.

By doing this, the CEMP becomes a live, practical document that genuinely helps to avoid incidents, protects sensitive features and keeps the project compliant, rather than a tick-box exercise.

If you have been asked for a CEMP, we can help.

When you contact us, please include the site address and postcode, a brief description of your proposal, any planning reference or ecology-related comments from your local authority and an idea of your timescales or key deadlines.

We will review the information and provide clear advice and a fixed-fee quote for your CEMP.