Principal Designer Services for Domestic Clients

When undertaking building work to your home, there are two separate Principal Designer roles that may apply to your project:

  • 1

    Principal Designer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM)

  • 2

    Principal Designer under the Building Regulations (Building Safety Act 2022)

Although the titles are similar, the roles have different legal responsibilities. Daniel Matthias Architecture Ltd. can undertake one or both roles depending on the nature and scope of your project.

Principal Designer under CDM Regulations 2015

The CDM Principal Designer is responsible for planning, managing and coordinating health and safety during the design phase of a project.

The role includes:

  • Identifying and reducing foreseeable health and safety risks arising from the design.
  • Coordinating health and safety matters between designers, consultants and contractors.
  • Ensuring that duty holders comply with their legal obligations under CDM.
  • Providing relevant pre-construction information to the contractor.
  • Preparing and issuing the Health and Safety File where required.

For domestic projects, clients’ duties are automatically transferred to the Principal Contractor and Principal Designer. However, the client must still ensure suitable appointments are made.

The purpose of this role is to help ensure that construction work is carried out safely for workers, occupants and future users of the building.

Principal Designer under Building Regulations

The Building Regulations Principal Designer is a separate role introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022.

The role focuses on ensuring that the design complies with the Building Regulations and that compliance is properly coordinated throughout the design process.

The role includes:

  • Planning, managing and monitoring the design work to achieve compliance with the Building Regulations.
  • Coordinating the design team and specialist consultants.
  • Identifying and managing Building Regulations compliance risks.
  • Ensuring information is recorded and communicated appropriately.
  • Supporting the client in meeting their duties under the Building Regulations.

This role does not replace Building Control approval and does not certify compliance. Responsibility for compliance remains shared amongst the client, designers and contractors.

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