CDM Principal Designer Norwich and Norfolk

Nautilus provides CDM Principal Designer services for construction projects throughout Norwich and Norfolk.

We work with architects, property developers, commercial clients, project managers and homeowners, helping them meet their duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015).

Our approach is practical and proportionate. CDM doesn’t need to mean unnecessary paperwork or making straightforward projects complicated. We focus on the things that matter: making sure significant design risks are properly considered, designers communicate with each other and the right information reaches the people who need it.

We support projects ranging from housing developments and residential refurbishment to commercial buildings, educational projects, listed properties and larger developments involving site-wide infrastructure.

Where a construction project involves, or is likely to involve, more than one contractor, the client must appoint a CDM Principal Designer.

The CDM Principal Designer’s role is to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety, working with the Client and design team to ensure foreseeable risks are considered as the design develops.

This doesn’t mean trying to remove every possible construction risk or producing paperwork for the sake of it. Construction inevitably involves risk. The important thing is that designers identify significant foreseeable risks and, where reasonably practicable, eliminate them or reduce and control them through the design process.

Appointing the Principal Designer early gives them the best opportunity to influence the project, but we are also regularly appointed to projects where design work is already underway.

Our CDM Principal Designer service typically includes:

• Advising the client on their duties under CDM 2015;
• Assisting, reviewing and preparing the pre-construction information;
• Liaising with architects, engineers and other designers;
• Ensuring designers are aware of and fulfil their CDM duties;
• Reviewing how significant design risks are being identified and managed;
• Highlighting gaps in information or matters requiring further consideration;
• Liaising with the Principal Contractor as the project progresses;
• Undertaking appropriate site visits and CDM audits during construction;
• Monitoring relevant design changes during the construction phase; and
• Preparing and developing the CDM Health and Safety File.

The level of involvement is proportionate to the size, complexity and risk profile of the project.

Health and safety is important, but we don’t believe it needs to become a barrier to getting a project built.

Our approach is straightforward and down to earth. We work with the design team to identify the significant issues that genuinely need attention rather than creating paperwork simply to demonstrate that something has been considered.

For a relatively straightforward residential development, that might mean concentrating on matters such as existing site conditions, utilities, ground conditions, construction sequencing, work at height and future maintenance.

A more complicated refurbishment, educational or commercial development may require greater coordination between structural, architectural and building services designs, together with existing structures, demolition, temporary works or site-wide infrastructure.

The approach changes to suit the project.

We also believe the Principal Designer role shouldn’t necessarily end at the office door once construction starts. Where appropriate, our service includes site visits and CDM audits during the construction phase. These help us maintain communication with the Principal Contractor, keep abreast of design changes and provide the client with additional assurance that CDM arrangements continue to be properly managed as the project progresses.

The aim throughout is simple: deal properly with significant risks without making the CDM process more complicated than it needs to be.

We provide CDM Principal Designer services for a wide range of projects in Norwich and throughout Norfolk, including:

• Housing developments;
• New-build houses and residential schemes;
• Residential refurbishment and conversion;
• Listed and historic buildings;
• Commercial and industrial developments;
• Schools, colleges and educational buildings;
• Offices and workplace projects;
• Extensions and alterations;
• Demolition and redevelopment; and
• Projects involving site-wide infrastructure and utilities.

We don’t try to be everything to everyone. Our focus is providing a personal, practical CDM Principal Designer service, working directly with clients and design teams rather than applying a generic process to every project.

Our CDM Principal Designer experience covers projects ranging from housing developments and refurbishment to commercial, industrial and more complex projects involving site-wide infrastructure.

Housing and residential development

We regularly act as CDM Principal Designer on new-build housing developments and individual residential projects, working with architects, engineers, developers and contractors throughout the design and construction process. Our involvement includes coordinating the management of significant design risks and monitoring relevant design changes as projects progress.

Commercial and industrial development

Recent Norfolk experience includes acting as CDM Principal Designer on the development of a new industrial estate comprising ten office, light-industrial and warehouse buildings, with individual units of up to approximately 5,000 sq ft.

The wider development includes site-wide storm drainage and utilities infrastructure, two electrical substations and UKPN overhead electricity diversions, requiring consideration of the interfaces between the buildings, infrastructure and utilities across the development.

Refurbishment, listed buildings and existing sites

We also have experience of refurbishment and conversion projects, including work involving listed and historic buildings. Existing buildings can introduce a different range of considerations from new-build development, including existing structures and services, asbestos, previous alterations, demolition and the interface between new design work and the existing building.

Educational projects

Our wider experience includes educational and university projects, where construction work may need to be carefully coordinated around occupied buildings, existing services and the continued operation of the premises.

The CDM approach should reflect the project in front of us rather than applying the same generic process to every job.

A large proportion of our appointments come through architects and architectural practices who need a CDM Principal Designer for their client’s project.

We also work directly with property developers, commercial organisations, project managers, quantity surveyors and domestic clients.

We’re equally comfortable working alongside an established professional design team or helping a client who isn’t particularly familiar with CDM understand what needs to happen.

Our aim is to become a useful member of the project team rather than another layer of administration.

We can also provide CDM Principal Designer advisory support where another organisation or member of the design team retains the formal Principal Designer appointment but requires additional CDM expertise and support.

If your construction project involves, or is likely to involve, more than one contractor, a Principal Designer will normally be required under CDM 2015.

This can apply to projects that initially appear relatively small. A project involving a main building contractor together with separate electrical, plumbing, roofing or other trades can involve multiple contractors for the purposes of CDM.

Where a CDM Principal Designer is required, the appointment should be made in writing and as early as practicable in the design process.

Domestic projects are also covered by CDM 2015, although the way the client duties are transferred and managed is different from a commercial project.

If you’re unsure whether a CDM Principal Designer appointment is required, we’re happy to discuss the project and explain the position without turning it into something more complicated than it needs to be.

If you’re planning a construction project in Norwich or elsewhere in Norfolk and require a CDM Principal Designer, please get in touch.

Tell us a little about the project, its location, approximate construction value and programme, and we’ll let you know what information we need to provide a quotation.

Practical CDM advice, proportionate to the project and delivered by people you can actually talk to.

For further advice or a fee quotation within 48 hours, please contact us below: