Principal Designer CDM The Principal Designer role under CDM 2015 regulations ensures clear accountability and coordinated health and safety management throughout the pre-construction phase. As Principal Designers, we plan, manage, and monitor design coordination from project inception through to construction commencement, integrating health and safety considerations whilst enabling design ambition. This coordination is particularly critical on complex projects where multiple design teams, contractors, and specialist consultants must work seamlessly together. We have been appointed as Principal Designer on complex, high- value projects including the RAAC replacement at St Catherine’s College and the £55 million Gradel Quadrangles scheme at New College for the University of Oxford. At New College, we coordinated services across three distinct phases - enabling works with temporary accommodation and demolition, groundworks, and main construction - managing information flow between different Principal Contractors, design teams, and archaeological works whilst ensuring CDM 2015 compliance throughout.
The service encompasses comprehensive pre-construction phase management. We ensure clients understand their duties, assist in identifying and preparing pre-construction information, and obtain and collate relevant documentation. We supply this information to designers, Principal Contractors, and contractors whilst ensuring designers comply with their duties and cooperate effectively. We maintain liaison with Principal Contractors throughout our appointment and manage preparation of the Health and Safety File. Internal audits ensure CDM policy and procedures are actively implemented by designers at appropriate project stages. This systematic approach ensures health and safety coordination integrates seamlessly with design development rather than operating as a separate compliance exercise. Members of our team hold specialist qualifications in CDM regulations, with Incorporated Membership of The Association of Project Safety, demonstrating our commitment to professional expertise in construction health and safety coordination. This capability enables us to provide single-point coordination on complex projects, reducing client risk whilst maintaining design quality. Whether working as both architect and Principal Designer or providing Principal Designer services for schemes designed by others, we bring rigorous oversight that protects all parties whilst enabling successful project delivery.
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Gradel Quadrangles Scheme, Image credit: David Kohn Architects
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OA ARCHITECTURE
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