In construction projects, safety and compliance are crucial from the earliest design stages. The role of the Principal Designer (PD) was created to make sure that health and safety are properly planned, managed, and coordinated throughout the project. This role is defined in two key pieces of UK legislation: the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) and the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA). While both share the same goal of improving safety, they apply in different ways and carry different responsibilities.
Under CDM 2015, a Principal Designer is appointed by the client when more than one contractor is involved in a project. The PD is usually the architect, lead designer, or another competent professional with control over the design phase. Under the Building Safety Act 2022, the Principal Designer is a statutory dutyholder who must ensure that design work complies with all relevant building regulations. This role goes beyond managing design risks — it focuses on verifying compliance, maintaining records, and providing evidence to the Building Safety Regulator that safety has been considered and achieved.
The CDM 2015 PD must also prepare and manage key safety documents such as the pre-construction information and contribute to the health and safety file — a record that helps future building owners and maintenance teams work safely. Essentially, under CDM, the Principal Designer acts as the link between design teams and contractors to make sure safety is built into every decision from the start (HSE, 2015).
Unlike CDM, the Building Safety Act places a stronger legal obligation on the Principal Designer to demonstrate competence and accountability. They must coordinate the work of other designers, review design decisions for compliance with the regulations, and ensure that accurate information (known as the “golden thread”) is recorded and passed through all stages of the project. This ensures that every decision is traceable and aligned with safety requirements throughout a building’s life cycle.
In practice, both roles — though similar in title — serve complementary purposes. The CDM Principal Designer focuses on managing health and safety risks during design and construction, while the Building Safety Act Principal Designer ensures that designs comply with building regulations and safety standards. In many cases, the same person or organisation may fulfil both duties if they are suitably qualified and competent.
Wrapping Up with Key Insights
The introduction of the Principal Designer under both CDM 2015 and the Building Safety Act 2022 highlights how the UK construction industry is shifting toward greater accountability and proactive safety management. The key insight is that safety begins at the design stage — long before work starts on site. By embedding compliance, communication, and coordination into every project, the Principal Designer plays a vital role in creating buildings that are safe, compliant, and built to protect life for generations to come.
Leave a Reply