CDM Principal Designer Ipswich and Suffolk

Practical, experienced CDM Principal Designer services for construction projects across Ipswich and Suffolk.

Nautilus provides independent CDM Principal Designer services to architects, property developers, commercial clients and homeowners throughout Suffolk. We work on projects ranging from individual new homes and residential developments to commercial, refurbishment and conversion projects.

We take a practical and proportionate approach to the Principal Designer role, working with the client, designers and Principal Contractor to manage and coordinate health and safety during the pre-construction phase and as design work continues through construction.

Planning a project in Ipswich or Suffolk? Contact us to discuss your project and obtain a quotation.

Where a construction project involves, or is reasonably foreseeable to involve, more than one contractor, the Client must appoint a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.

As your CDM Principal Designer, Nautilus plans, manages, monitors and coordinates health and safety during the pre-construction phase in accordance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015).

Our role is not simply to produce CDM paperwork. We work with the design team to ensure that foreseeable health and safety risks are considered as the design develops, that relevant information is shared between those involved and that significant residual risks are properly communicated to those who need to know about them.

We can become involved from the early stages of a project or take on the Principal Designer role where design work is already underway.

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 Principal Designer services include:

• Reviewing and assisting with the preparation of Pre-Construction 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.
• Identifying gaps in relevant pre-construction information, such as existing surveys and records.
• Ensuring significant residual design risks are communicated to the Principal Contractor.
• Liaising with the Principal Contractor as the project moves into the construction phase.
• 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 or commercial project, but the responsibilities of the Principal Designer still need to be properly managed.

Our involvement doesn’t necessarily end when construction starts. The pre-construction phase can continue into the construction phase where design work is still being carried out. Details may continue to be developed, specialist designers appointed and changes made as the work progresses.

We remain available to the client, designers and Principal Contractor throughout the project to deal with CDM queries, discuss design changes and assist with the exchange of relevant health and safety information.

Our site visits and CDM audits also provide an opportunity to maintain contact with the project team and identify design or CDM matters that may require further consideration or coordination.

At the end of the project, we coordinate the information required for the Health and Safety File, working with the project team to compile the relevant information for handover to the client.

We have provided CDM Principal Designer services for a range of construction projects across Suffolk, from individual new homes and residential developments to commercial refurbishment and conversion projects.

21-Home Residential Development

Principal Designer services for a development of 21 new homes, comprising private and affordable housing together with associated access, infrastructure, landscaping and public open space.

Commercial Building Conversion

Principal Designer services for the conversion of an existing commercial building to provide two-storey office accommodation, including structural alterations and new internal facilities.

9-Home Residential Development

Principal Designer services for a nine-home residential development, including new site access, internal infrastructure and associated external works.

Private New-Build Home

Principal Designer services for private clients constructing a new three-bedroom home within the grounds of their existing property.

Nautilus provides CDM Principal Designer services for construction projects throughout Ipswich and Suffolk.

We work with clients and project teams in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Stowmarket, Sudbury, Woodbridge, Felixstowe and Lowestoft, as well as the surrounding areas.

We provide CDM Principal Designer services to a wide range of clients and project teams across Ipswich and Suffolk.

We regularly work with architects and architectural practices, either through a direct appointment or where they are assisting their client in finding an independent Principal Designer.

We also work with property developers, commercial clients, project managers and quantity surveyors, as well as domestic clients undertaking new-build, extension and refurbishment projects.

In some cases, the architect, project manager or another suitably competent organisation is appointed as the Principal Designer but requires specialist CDM support and advice to help them fulfil the role.

Nautilus can provide Principal Designer advisory services, working alongside the appointed Principal Designer and project team without taking over the formal PD appointment. The scope can be tailored to the project and may include advice on CDM duties, Pre-Construction Information, design risk management and coordination, designer information, meetings and ongoing CDM matters as the design develops.

Whatever the nature of our appointment, our approach is straightforward: understand the project, identify the significant health and safety issues, coordinate effectively with the project team and provide a level of CDM support that is proportionate to the work involved.

Can you be appointed if design work has already started?

Yes. Ideally, the Principal Designer should be appointed early enough to influence how health and safety is considered during design, but we are regularly approached after design work has already commenced.

Where we are appointed later, we review the available project and design information, establish what has already been undertaken and identify any CDM matters that still need to be addressed.

Do you work on smaller projects and domestic developments?

Yes. Our projects range from individual new homes and refurbishments to multi-unit residential developments and commercial projects.

The level of Principal Designer input is tailored to the size, complexity and risks of the project, so smaller projects receive a proportionate service.

Do you visit projects during construction?

Yes, where appropriate. Our Principal Designer service can include site visits and CDM audits during the construction phase.

These visits help us maintain contact with the project team and provide an opportunity to discuss ongoing design development, design changes and other CDM matters that may arise as construction progresses.

What do you need to provide a Principal Designer quotation?

Usually, we only need some basic information to get started. This might include the project location, a brief description of the proposed works, available drawings and the anticipated construction programme.

Send us the information you currently have and we can advise if anything further is required.

If you’re planning a construction project in Ipswich or elsewhere in Suffolk, we’d be happy to discuss the project and explain how we can help.

Whether you need Nautilus to act as your CDM Principal Designer or require Principal Designer advisory support for an existing appointment, send us your project details and we’ll come back to you with an appropriate proposal.

For practical CDM advice from people you can actually talk to, or a fee quotation within 48 hours, please contact Tim below: