CDM Coordinators in the UK
Browse 25 verified cdm coordinators across the UK. Get quotes for Pre-Construction Information, Health and Safety File, CDM Notification and more.
25 verified cdm coordinators across the UK on The Planning Review.
What does a cdm coordinator do?
A CDM coordinator (formally a Principal Designer under the CDM 2015 regulations) manages pre-construction health and safety on construction projects. Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, every project with more than one contractor requires the client to appoint a Principal Designer. Their job is to ensure that health and safety risks are identified and managed through the design process before construction begins, reducing the likelihood of accidents and enforcement action on site.
Although CDM compliance is primarily a health and safety matter, it increasingly overlaps with the planning process. Some local planning authorities attach conditions requiring a CDM compliance statement or construction management plan before development commences. On major schemes, the overlap between planning requirements (construction logistics plans, demolition method statements, environmental management plans) and CDM obligations (pre-construction information, construction phase plans) means the Principal Designer's work directly supports the discharge of planning conditions.
In practice, the Principal Designer coordinates with architects, structural engineers, and other designers to eliminate foreseeable health and safety risks through design changes where possible, and to communicate remaining risks to contractors via the pre-construction information pack. They also compile the health and safety file, a record of as-built information needed for future maintenance, repair, or demolition, which is handed to the client at project completion.
When do you need a cdm coordinator?
- The construction project involves more than one contractor (a Principal Designer appointment is a legal requirement under CDM 2015)
- The project is notifiable to HSE (lasting longer than 30 working days with 20+ workers, or exceeding 500 person-days)
- The LPA has conditioned a Construction Management Plan or Construction Logistics Plan on a major planning application
- The project involves demolition, which requires a Construction Phase Plan regardless of the number of contractors
- The refurbishment or conversion involves asbestos, structural instability, or confined spaces
- The design involves high-risk activities such as work at height, deep excavations, or work near live services
- The client organisation lacks in-house competence to manage CDM duties and needs a competent appointment to demonstrate compliance
- A planning condition specifically requires a CDM compliance statement
Services you can get local quotes for
- Construction Management Plan
- Health & Safety Management
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Principal Designer / CDM coordinator cost?
Fees vary considerably depending on the size and complexity of the project and the duration of the appointment. For a small to medium residential development (5 to 20 dwellings), Principal Designer fees typically range from £2,000 to £6,000 for the full project duration. For a single house build or conversion, fees may be as low as £800 to £2,000. For larger commercial or mixed-use developments, fees range from £5,000 to £15,000 or more, and are often charged as a monthly retainer of £500 to £2,000 per month over the project duration. Some practices charge a percentage of the construction cost, typically 0.5% to 1.5%. These fees cover the full scope from pre-construction information through to health and safety file handover.
How long does the process take?
The Principal Designer should be appointed at the earliest opportunity, ideally at RIBA Stage 1 or 2, and their appointment continues until the end of the construction phase (or handover to the Principal Contractor if agreed). The initial pre-construction information pack can be compiled in 2 to 4 weeks once the relevant site information is available. Design risk management is an ongoing activity throughout the design and construction phases. The health and safety file is compiled progressively during construction and finalised at practical completion. For the purposes of planning, a CDM compliance statement can typically be produced within 1 to 2 weeks of appointment.
Is a Principal Designer required for domestic projects?
CDM 2015 applies to all construction projects, including domestic projects (where the client is a householder having work done on their own home). However, for domestic projects, the client's duties are automatically transferred to the contractor (or Principal Contractor if there is more than one contractor). A domestic client does not have to appoint a Principal Designer, but they may choose to do so. Where a domestic client engages an architect or designer who agrees to take on the Principal Designer role, this is good practice and ensures that health and safety is properly coordinated. For larger domestic projects (new builds, major extensions, conversions), appointing a Principal Designer is strongly recommended.
What is the difference between a CDM coordinator and a Principal Designer?
The CDM Coordinator role existed under the previous CDM 2007 regulations and was a standalone appointment responsible for coordinating health and safety during the pre-construction phase. Under CDM 2015, this role was replaced by the Principal Designer, who must be a designer (an organisation or individual that carries out design work) rather than a standalone advisor. In practice, many firms that offered CDM Coordinator services under the 2007 regulations now offer Principal Designer services under the 2015 regulations, and the scope of work is similar. The key difference is that the Principal Designer must be actively involved in the design process, not just advising from the side-lines.
Can the architect be the Principal Designer?
Yes, and in many cases the architect is well-placed to take on the Principal Designer role, as they are typically the lead designer coordinating the design team during the pre-construction phase. However, the architect must have the competence, knowledge, and experience to fulfil the Principal Designer duties, including understanding of construction health and safety risks and CDM 2015 requirements. Some architectural practices offer Principal Designer services in-house, while others prefer to appoint a specialist CDM consultancy. On more complex projects, or where the architect does not have CDM expertise, a specialist Principal Designer appointment is advisable.
Legal and regulatory framework
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Approved Code of Practice: Managing Health and Safety in Construction (L153)
- PAS 6: Framework for the delivery of improved construction logistics
- Building Safety Act 2022
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Professional accreditations
- Association for Project Safety
- Institution of Occupational Safety and Health