Building Regulations Principal Designer

Since new dutyholder regulations under the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force in October 2023, it is now mandatory to appoint a Principal Designer (Building Regulations) to plan, manage, and coordinate the design phase of a construction project to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations. This role is distinct from the CDM Principal Designer and can be filled by an organisation or a competent individual. Our building consultancy specialists help clients establish the correct dutyholder appointments, coordinate design compliance information and support the evidence trail required for building control.

Our Building Regulations Principal Designer services

Strategic advice

We support clients with strategic pre-appointment advice to help create the project's regulatory framework. We provide guidance on whether the proposed works constitute building work that requires Building Regulations approval and brief clients on dutyholder responsibilities, competence expectations, and appointment requirements. We can also act as Principal Designer under the Building Regulations where appropriate, competent and within the agreed scope.

Design and coordination

We provide clients with operational support during the design phase, coordinating among relevant designers and specialists to collate compliance information, support building control submissions, manage information, and respond to queries.

Construction support

We support clients throughout the construction phase and through to completion, gathering the mandatory legal evidence and coordinating the final compliance declarations and as-built information required for building control to formally sign off the building for occupation.

CDM or Building Regulations Principal Designer?

The Building Regulations Principal Designer and CDM Principal Designer are two distinct roles, and appointments must be made on a competent, project-specific basis. A CDM Principal designer focuses on health and safety considerations during the design phase of a construction project and adheres to CDM Regulations 2015, whereas a Building Regulations Principal Designer’s main focus is on adherence with Building Regulations and ensuring the design team act competently and compliantly.

The same individual or organisation may sometimes undertake both if competent and properly appointed. Our consultancy specialists can operate under both roles to support with the Building Regulations dutyholder regime and Principal Designer coordination for all relevant building work.