The Environment Agency’s Knotweed Code of Practice, first published in 2006, deemed a Knotweed Management Plan (KMP) to be “essential” on development sites. While this document has been superseded by Regulatory Position Statement 178 (Click Here), the importance of a formal Management Plan remains. RPS178 states: “you must have a Management Plan, which sets out how you’ll dig up, treat or bury the material to prevent further growth or spread beyond the site.” The use of the word ‘must’ makes the requirement for a Management Plan mandatory not advisory.

A Management Plan ensures knotweed (or other invasive species) on a development site is given due consideration prior to the commencement of works, prevented from subsequent disturbance and that provision is made to treat the target plant(s) efficiently and cost-effectively by taking the proposed development scheme into account.