CDM Principal Designer Cambridge & Cambridgeshire
Nautilus provides experienced CDM Principal Designer services in Cambridge and across Cambridgeshire, supporting clients, architects, developers and project managers with practical, proportionate advice throughout the design and construction process.
Based near Newmarket, we regularly work on projects throughout Cambridge and the surrounding area, from residential developments and refurbishment projects to university, educational and commercial buildings.
As CDM Principal Designer, we help project teams meet their duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), coordinating health and safety during the pre-construction phase and remaining involved as designs develop and change during construction.
Our approach is straightforward and hands-on. You deal directly with an experienced CDM professional, and our service normally includes periodic site visits during construction, providing additional oversight and protection for the client rather than disappearing once work starts.
CDM Principal Designer Services in Cambridge & Cambridgeshire
We act as CDM Principal Designer for projects throughout Cambridge and Cambridgeshire, working with clients and design teams from the early stages of a project through to completion.
Our role is to help plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the pre-construction phase, working with the client and design team to ensure significant risks are properly considered and relevant information is shared with those who need it. Our involvement continues throughout the construction phase, dealing with ongoing design work and significant design changes, liaising with the Principal Contractor and ultimately preparing the Health and Safety File.
Normally, we also carry out periodic CDM site audits during the construction phase. These provide additional monitoring for the client and help us remain actively involved as the project and design develop.
You can read more about our full CDM Principal Designer service and how we work on our main Principal Designer page.
CDM Experience Across Cambridge & Cambridgeshire
We regularly act as CDM Principal Designer on projects across Cambridge and Cambridgeshire, including residential developments, refurbishment and conversion projects, university and educational buildings, commercial premises and infrastructure works.
Across the wider county, we work with developers, architects and private clients on projects ranging from individual buildings and conversions through to multi-property residential developments.
This variety of work means we’re equally comfortable working alongside established consultant design teams on technically complex projects or providing straightforward, proportionate CDM support on smaller developments.
University Clinical School – Cambridge
CDM support for an LED lighting and emergency lighting upgrade within an operational university clinical school, with works undertaken around the continued use of the building and requiring access into the existing roof space.
Residential Development – Cambridge
CDM Principal Designer for the construction of four new homes together with alterations to existing residential buildings, including demolition works, on a constrained site adjacent to a busy Cambridge road.
Mixed-Use Development – Cambridge
CDM Principal Designer for the demolition of two existing houses and construction of houses, flats and ground-floor commercial accommodation on a constrained urban site in Cambridge.
Town Council Building Extension – Cambridgeshire
CDM Principal Designer for the extension and alteration of an existing public building. The existing facilities remained operational, requiring careful coordination between the works, building users and surrounding public areas.
Meet the Team
Nautilus is a small, independent consultancy, so you’ll deal directly with the people actually working on your project.
Tim heads up our CDM Principal Designer work and will normally be your day-to-day contact. He has worked as a Principal Designer for over 10 years and brings a practical understanding of construction and the commercial realities of getting projects designed and built.
Peter is a Chartered Health & Safety Consultant with around 40 years’ experience in construction and 25 years in health and safety. He supports the more technical aspects of health, safety and environmental compliance, bringing extensive practical experience and a straightforward, proportionate approach.
Tim Boutle – CDM Projects Director
Peter Scott (CMIOSH) – Health and Safety Director
How We Support Your Project
Our Principal Designer service is tailored to the size, complexity and risks of each project. We work alongside the client and design team from appointment, helping to ensure that health and safety is properly considered and coordinated as the design develops.
Our typical CDM Principal Designer services include:
- Reviewing and assisting with the preparation of Pre-Construction Information, including identifying gaps in relevant surveys and existing information.
- Liaising with the client, designers and other members of the project team.
- Reviewing designers’ information and significant design risks.
- Helping to ensure that designers cooperate and coordinate their work in relation to health and safety.
- Ensuring significant residual design risks are communicated to the Principal Contractor.
- Monitoring significant design changes and ongoing design work during construction.
- Undertaking appropriate site visits and CDM audits during the project.
- Preparing, reviewing and completing the CDM Health and Safety File for handover to the client.
The extent of our involvement is proportionate to the project. A small residential development does not require the same approach as a complex refurbishment, university or commercial project, but the responsibilities of the Principal Designer still need to be properly managed.
A Practical Approach to CDM
We believe CDM should be practical and proportionate to the project, rather than creating unnecessary paperwork or getting in the way of the design and construction process.
We work closely with clients, architects and other designers to identify the significant and project-specific risks that actually matter, coordinate the information needed by the project team and help resolve CDM issues as the design develops.
Our involvement doesn’t end when construction starts. We remain available to deal with design changes, emerging risks and CDM queries during the construction phase, and our appointments normally include periodic site audits. This provides the client with additional protection and oversight while ensuring that we remain actively involved with the project through to completion and preparation of the Health and Safety File.
You’ll also deal directly with the person managing your project, without layers of account managers or junior consultants.
CDM Support for Architects & Project Teams
We regularly work alongside architects, project managers and other design consultants across Cambridge and Cambridgeshire, either taking the formal CDM Principal Designer appointment or providing additional CDM support where another member of the project team retains the role.
For architects or project managers acting as Principal Designer, our CDM advisory support can take care of much of the practical workload involved in managing CDM compliance, while allowing them to retain their existing client relationship and Principal Designer appointment.
This can include assistance with Pre-Construction Information, designer coordination and design risk management, construction-phase CDM matters, periodic site audits and preparation of the Health and Safety File.
Whether we’re appointed as CDM Principal Designer, CDM Consultant or CDM Adviser, the aim is the same: to provide experienced, proportionate support that reduces the burden on the project team and allows designers to concentrate on the design itself.
CDM Principal Designer Services Across Cambridgeshire
Based near Newmarket, we’re well placed to provide CDM Principal Designer services throughout Cambridge and Cambridgeshire, including projects in and around Cambridge, Ely, Newmarket, Huntingdon, St Neots, Peterborough and surrounding areas.
Our location makes it straightforward for us to attend design meetings and construction sites across the county, while our regular work in Cambridge means we’re familiar with the mixture of university, residential, commercial, refurbishment and development projects found across the area.
If you’re looking for a CDM Principal Designer or CDM Consultant in Cambridge or Cambridgeshire, we’re happy to discuss the project at an early stage and advise on the level of CDM support likely to be required.
Frequently asked questions
Do you provide CDM Principal Designer services throughout Cambridgeshire?
Yes. We work throughout Cambridge and Cambridgeshire, including Ely, Huntingdon, March, St Neots, Peterborough and surrounding areas. Based near Newmarket, we’re also conveniently located for projects throughout the east of the county.
What types of projects do you work on in Cambridge?
Our Cambridge and Cambridgeshire experience includes residential developments, university and educational buildings, refurbishment and conversion projects, commercial premises, infrastructure and M&E projects. We work on both new-build and existing buildings, from relatively straightforward developments to projects involving occupied and operational sites.
Can you support an architect who wants to remain CDM Principal Designer?
Yes. We can provide CDM advisory support where an architect, project manager or other designer retains the formal Principal Designer appointment. We can assist with the practical CDM workload, including Pre-Construction Information, design risk management, designer coordination, competence checks, site audits and the Health and Safety File.
Do you visit construction sites in Cambridge and Cambridgeshire?
Yes. Our CDM Principal Designer appointments normally include periodic site audits during the construction phase. These help us remain involved as the project develops, identify relevant design changes or emerging CDM matters and provide additional oversight for the client.
Looking for a CDM Principal Designer in Cambridge or Cambridgeshire?
If you’re planning a construction project in Cambridge or Cambridgeshire and need an experienced CDM Principal Designer, get in touch for an initial discussion.
We’re happy to become involved at an early stage, review what information is already available and explain what CDM support your project is likely to require.
Whether you need us to take the CDM Principal Designer appointment or provide CDM advisory support to your existing project team, you’ll deal directly with an experienced consultant throughout.
Talk to us about your project, we’re here to help.