Principal Designer
CDM Regulations & Building Safety Act
At James Scott Associates, we provide Principal Designer services in accordance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) and the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA).
We support clients, designers and contractors in meeting their statutory duties, managing risk and embedding health, safety and compliance into the design and delivery of construction projects.
Our approach is practical, proportionate and firmly grounded in real-world construction and design experience.
Principal Designer under CDM 2015
Under CDM 2015, the Principal Designer is responsible for planning, managing and monitoring health and safety risks during the pre-construction phase of a project.
We act as Principal Designer where:
- More than one contractor is involved, or is likely to be involved
- The project includes design risk that requires coordination
- Clients require clear, professional management of CDM duties
Our CDM Principal Designer Duties Include
- Assisting the client in identifying their duties under CDM
- Planning, managing and coordinating the pre-construction phase
- Identifying, eliminating or controlling foreseeable design risks
- Ensuring designers comply with their CDM duties
- Coordinating design information and risk registers
- Liaising with the Principal Contractor
- Ensuring pre-construction information is prepared and issued
- Supporting the preparation of the Health & Safety File
Our aim is to reduce risk through good design and early coordination, not paperwork for its own sake.
Principal Designer under the Building Safety Act 2022
The Building Safety Act 2022 introduces additional, more stringent duties for Higher-Risk Buildings, particularly in relation to design compliance, information management and dutyholder accountability.
We provide Principal Designer support to help dutyholders understand and comply with the requirements of the Act throughout the design and construction process.
Our Building Safety Act Principal Designer Role
Our services under the Building Safety Act may include:
- Supporting the client in fulfilling their dutyholder obligations
- Managing and coordinating design compliance with Building Regulations
- Ensuring design decisions are properly considered, recorded and justified
- Coordinating information required for Gateway submissions
- Supporting the “golden thread” of building information
- Liaising with the Building Safety Regulator where required
- Managing design change control during the project
Our technical background ensures compliance is embedded into design, not addressed retrospectively.
