This British Standard gives recommendations and provides guidance primarily for ensuring that actions and decisions taken at each stage of the planning process are informed by sufficient and appropriate ecological information. In particular, this British Standard provides recommendations and guidance to all professionals working in the planning and development sectors who might encounter biodiversity as an issue during the planning, design and development process on how to: meet obligations under codes of ethics or conduct when taking decisions or undertaking actions that could affect the natural environment; and adopt a professional, scientific and consistent approach to gathering, analysing, presenting and reviewing ecological information at key stages of the planning application process, or in evaluating the ecological implications of associated activities as part of consultation or other regulatory procedures. The processes recommended in this British Standard are applicable to the terrestrial, aquatic and marine environments. Although the recommendations of this British Standard are intended primarily for those in the development control and management process, its principles can also be applied to forward planning, and in relation to other consenting processes, e.g. applications for EPS licence applications or environmental permits (see 9.5). The principles of the standard may also be applied to the preparation and determination of planning applications where geodiversity is a material consideration.