Principal Designer and contractor CDM support
CDM 2015 places duties on clients, designers and contractors from the earliest stage of a project through to handover. We make sure those duties are properly arranged, documented and maintained.
Based in Liverpool. Supporting contractors across the North West and the UK.
Discuss your CDM requirementsWhat we do
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 place duties on clients, Principal Designers, Principal Contractors, designers and contractors on construction projects in Great Britain.
For contractors, compliance involves more than a Construction Phase Plan. Arrangements need to be set up, preconstruction information reviewed and acted on, design risks managed and duties maintained as the work evolves. We provide that support as Principal Designer or alongside your own team.
Need practical support on site as well? See our construction health and safety consultancy.
What we provide
How we help
Open any service to see what it covers.
Where we are formally appointed as Principal Designer, we plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the preconstruction phase. We manage design interfaces, coordinate information and support the client in meeting their CDM duties. We do not accept appointments that fall outside our genuine competence.
Support for the Principal Contractor or main contractor where the client has already appointed a Principal Designer. We help set up construction phase arrangements, review and distribute preconstruction information and maintain CDM governance throughout delivery.
General CDM advice to contractors, subcontractors and project teams. This covers role identification, duty review, preconstruction information, F10 notifications, Construction Phase Plan development and practical compliance on live projects.
The Principal Contractor must prepare the Construction Phase Plan before the construction phase begins and develop it as the project progresses. It must be specific to the project. We support preparation and maintenance, or review an existing plan against the current project status and set up a process for keeping it current.
The client must provide preconstruction information and the Principal Designer coordinates it. For contractors, reviewing and acting on that information is a key duty that must be reflected in the Construction Phase Plan and site arrangements.
Designers must eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable risks through design. Where risks cannot be designed out, information about residual risks must reach those who need it. We track, record and communicate design risk so the construction team knows what is left to manage.
Notification is a client duty. We confirm whether the project is notifiable, prepare the F10 on the client's behalf where asked and make sure the notice is kept up to date and displayed on site.
The Principal Designer prepares the Health and Safety File during the project and passes it to the client at the end. If the Principal Designer's appointment ends first, the file passes to the Principal Contractor. We prepare, review and compile the file so it is useful for future maintenance, alteration and demolition.
CDM arrangements on a live project that need attention?
Speak to our teamCDM through the project
Duties change as the project moves from design to construction and completion. These are the main steps at each stage.
When you need us
Some contractors appoint us at tender or mobilisation. Others call when existing arrangements need attention on a live project.
The client has made the Principal Designer appointment and you need extra CDM resource to manage your own duties as Principal Contractor.
A Construction Phase Plan exists but has not been maintained as the methodology, phasing or interfaces have changed.
It is not clear who holds which CDM duties, particularly on design and build contracts or projects with several designers.
Surveys, existing drawings or hazardous material information are missing or have not been reviewed by the site team.
Work in an occupied building or next to live operations means the CPP, design risk and site controls must reflect those interfaces.
You need CDM methodology, a Construction Phase Plan approach and dutyholder clarity before the project reaches site.
The detail
CDM applies to all construction work in Great Britain, including new build, alteration, refurbishment, maintenance and demolition. Dutyholder requirements apply whether or not a project is notifiable.
Client
Makes suitable arrangements for managing the project, provides preconstruction information and appoints the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.
Principal Designer
Plans, manages, monitors and coordinates health and safety in the preconstruction phase.
Principal Contractor
Plans, manages, monitors and coordinates the construction phase and prepares the Construction Phase Plan.
Designers
Eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable risks through design and provide information on residual risks.
Contractors
Plan, manage and monitor their own work and cooperate with the Principal Contractor.
A project is notifiable to HSE when the construction work is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point, or to exceed 500 person days. The client is responsible for notification. The notice must be displayed on site and kept up to date.
Existing drawings and as built records
Structure, services, drainage, foundations and relevant historic construction information.
Hazardous materials surveys
Asbestos management survey, refurbishment and demolition survey plus any contamination information.
Site surveys
Ground investigation, UXO surveys, utility records, ecology reports and service plans.
Significant design risks
Residual hazards identified by designers that cannot be designed out.
Regulatory and planning information
Planning conditions, listed building or conservation constraints plus neighbour agreements.
A generic template that is not tailored to the actual risks and arrangements does not meet the requirement.
A school refurbishment in an occupied building needs different arrangements to a highway scheme under live traffic or an upgrade within a working factory. The content of the plan, the design risks and the preconstruction information all vary by sector.
Principal Designer duties relate mainly to the preconstruction phase. Contractor health and safety management runs through the construction phase alongside the Principal Contractor. The two meet around the Construction Phase Plan, preconstruction information, design risk and the Health and Safety File. Temporary works arrangements should also be reflected in the plan.
Related services
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 apply to every construction project in Great Britain. This guide explains how CDM 2015 works from a contractor's point of view: who the dutyholders are, what each must do and which documents the regulations require.
Read insightThe Principal Contractor controls health and safety during the construction phase of any project with more than one contractor. This guide explains when a Principal Contractor is required, what CDM 2015 says they must do and how those duties translate into day to day site management.
Read insightEvery construction project needs a Construction Phase Plan before work starts. This guide explains who prepares the CPP, what CDM 2015 and HSE guidance expect it to contain and how to keep it useful once the job is on site.
Read insightFAQ
The Principal Designer is appointed by the client under CDM 2015 to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the preconstruction phase. The role includes coordinating design, gathering preconstruction information, identifying and managing significant risks and preparing the Health and Safety File. The Principal Designer must be a designer with the skills, knowledge and experience the project needs.
Not necessarily. The Principal Designer is a specific statutory appointment under CDM 2015. The same party can hold both roles if they have the right skills and experience, but they are legally distinct appointments with different responsibilities.
Yes. We can be formally appointed as CDM 2015 Principal Designer where it is appropriate and within our competence. We also provide contractor side CDM support where another party already holds the Principal Designer appointment.
The Construction Phase Plan sets out the health and safety arrangements for the construction phase. The Principal Contractor must prepare it before the construction phase begins and develop it as the project progresses. It covers management arrangements, significant risks, emergency procedures, welfare and site specific controls.
It is health and safety information gathered before construction begins. The client provides it and the Principal Designer coordinates it. It typically includes existing building information, surveys, hazardous material reports, significant design risks and relevant planning or regulatory information. It informs the Construction Phase Plan.
A project is notifiable when construction work is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point, or to exceed 500 person days. The client is responsible for notifying HSE. All other CDM duties apply whether or not the project is notifiable.
Yes. We advise subcontractors as well as principal and main contractors. This covers their duties under CDM 2015, the interface with the Construction Phase Plan, design risk, safe methods of work and review of preconstruction information.
They are separate regimes with different dutyholders and requirements. In England the Building Regulations now include their own dutyholder roles, including a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor for building regulations compliance, with further requirements on higher risk buildings under the Building Safety Act. These sit alongside CDM 2015 duties and should not be confused with them.
Yes. CDM applies whether or not a building is occupied. In a live environment the Construction Phase Plan, design risk management, site controls and preconstruction information all need to reflect those interfaces.
Yes. Through our tender and preconstruction support we can provide dutyholder identification, CDM methodology, the Construction Phase Plan approach, preconstruction information review and CDM resourcing before the project reaches site.
We are based in Liverpool and support contractors across Liverpool, Manchester and the wider North West as well as projects elsewhere in the UK.
CDM 2015 support
Whether you need a Principal Designer appointment, contractor side CDM advice, a Construction Phase Plan or extra CDM resource on a live project, we can provide experienced support proportionate to your project.
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