The Principal Designer role – beyond compliance

Employing an architect as Principal  Designer can go far beyond compliance to improving resilience and outcome

Under the CDM Regulations and the Building Regulations, clients have a statutory duty to appoint a principal designer: Are you covered?

The Grenfell Report has highlighted what many of us thought should be an obvious and unshakeable commitment to safety in construction that needed to be ratified in law. Changes to both the CDM Regulations and the Building Regulations now demand that clients are liable for ensuring that their projects are designed with safety in mind. This duty is discharged by the appointment of a Principal Designer (PD).

A Principal Designer will be required on most construction projects, with an even greater level of compliance for Higher Risk Buildings (HRBs)

At its most basic, the role is about compliance. However, an architect -with their training in coordination, user needs, and construction – can offer much more to a project in their fulfilment of the PD role. Whilst occupant safety represents an ethical stance, ensuring this can easily benefit building resilience, longevity, and even user comfort/productivity. These are all enhancements and value adds to your investment.

What is a Principal Designer?

A principal designer will support the client by ensuring the project is carried out to meet Building Regulations and to minimise risks to health and safety. Their role may formally begin at the early stages of a project but certainly will becoming a priority as projects move towards construction.

Two roles, one name

Both the CDM Regulations 2015 and the Building Safety Act (BSA) 2022 define the role of the Principal Designer. The roles are slightly different although the title is the same.

The CDM PD ensures any building is designed to be safely constructed and maintained. It requires designers to consider the welfare of the public as well as any contractors working on the property.

The BSA PD role requires a designer to ensure that designs meet Building Regulations. This legislation is part of the response to the Grenfell incident and as such, it is an imperative that clients make sure a PD is appointed to offer the appropriate oversight.

Reassurance and Value

A Principal Designer must be competent to take on this role. Although the regulations remain inexplicit, an architect has the training and special skills to best discharge this duty. Architects have an understanding of the whole building design whilst also leading the coordination of consultants and specialists. In addition, they typically keep tabs on your brief. This means they are best placed to adjust the design to remain compliant in a way that does not compromise your objectives.

The change in legislation requires extra administration. However, you can leverage this by selecting a PD that will add value to the project design and delivery. An architect with the appropriate PD training in addition to their core professional training will not only ensure compliance but will also reassure stakeholders. An architect fulfilling the PD role can spot issues early and solve potential problems before they have an impact on construction – which can result in reduced time being out of premises or unable to trade.

Resilience and outcome

The changes to Building Regulations increase the clarity around areas of responsibility for the purpose of ensuring buildings are fit for purpose and safe. This is particularly so where a responsibility might have previously ‘fallen down the cracks’ between the scopes of different project participants.

The Principal Designer is responsible for either designing to compliance themselves, or for involving appropriate specialists to collaborate in the effort. An architect has the organisational and communication skills needed to fulfil this role not only during the design phase, but also into construction and then use.

All commercial organisations will have to appoint a PD for notifiable work. Bringing an architect into your team in the role early in your projects will take advantage of their unique skill in overseeing the design and ultimately, allow them to design for safety proactively, looking after your commercial interests.

Talk to us about using us as your Principal Designer

Read a case study on how we act as Principal Designer for new Hotpod Yoga franchisees.

Khuzema Hussain, Partner at Collective Works.