Construction environmental management plan

[edit] Introduction

The purpose of a construction environmental management plan is to outline how a construction project will avoid, minimise or mitigate effects on the environment and surrounding area.

Construction environmental management plans often detail the implementation of measures in accordance with environmental commitments outlined in; an Environmental Statement, an environmental policy or environmental plan, requirements of planning conditions, Section 106 agreements or other legislative requirements. They are ‘live’ documents that are reviewed and updated at regular intervals throughout the project life cycle.

[edit] Purpose

The purpose of a construction environmental management plan is typically to:

• Highlight stakeholder requirements.
• Ensure that the development is compliant with current environmental legislation.
• Outline Environmental Management System requirements (in accordance with ISO 14001).
• Detail the mitigation committed to within the Environmental Statement and how it will be implemented on site.
• Ensure that any adverse effects are minimised during construction.
• Describe any site-specific method statements required.

[edit] Scope

The basic scope of a plan should consider the following subject areas, as applicable to the individual project:

• Air quality.
• Water quality and drainage.
• Noise and vibration.
• Geology and soils.
• Landscape and visual impact.
• Nature conservation.
• Archaeology and cultural heritage.
• People and communities.
• Waste.
• Energy.
• Transport.
• Materials.

[edit] Outline plan

Construction environmental management plans might be structured as follows:

• Introduction – General purpose, scope and structure of the document.
• Scope of work and project description – Information about the development.
• Environmental requirements and controls – Policy and planning, environmental impacts, risks and mitigation, procedures for monitoring construction processes against environmental objectives, pollution control measures, environmental risk register.
• Consents, commitments and permissions – Appropriate environmental legislation, planning conditions and any other consents or licensing.
• Management plans – Specific management plans such as; ecology, noise and vibration and so on.
• Communication – External and internal consultations.

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.

• Contaminated land.
• Deleterious materials.
• Ecological impact assessment.
• Eco-Management and Audit Scheme EMAS.
• Environmental consultant.
• Environmental engineering.
• Environmental impact assessment.
• Environmental modelling.
• Environmental policy.
• Protected species.
• Sustainability.
• Sustainable materials.

[edit] External references

• Environmental Management Plans.