Principal Designer

The role of Principal Designer can be complex and requires many skills including technical, health & safety management and people management skills, at BM3 we have the skills knowledge and experience to undertake the duties of the Principal Designer as defined by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. We undertake the planning, management and monitoring of health and safety during the pre-construction phase from inception to completion.

From the start of our appointment we provide the Client with the confidence that all parties involved in the project are compliant with the CDM Regulations and we proactively encourage good communication and coordination to ensure the design team manage and mitigate any health and safety risks identified.

We have successfully undertaken the key duty holder role of Principal Designer and previously CDM Coordinator and Planning Supervisor on a range of complex projects across various sectors and as a company BM3 along with our principal designers hold corporate and individual memberships of various health and safety institutions such as APS, IIRSM, IOSH and CHAS.

BM3’s principal designers have a thorough understanding and competence in developing CDM processes throughout a project and are experienced in providing professional Health and Safety advice to Clients and Designers. We are NEBOSH General, Construction and Fire Awareness qualified and members of APS and registered as IMaPS, Technical and Associate members of (IOSH) the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and (IIRSM) the Institute of International Risk and Safety Management and hold the P405 for Asbestos Awareness Management in buildings.

We provide principal designer services for housing associations and private developers, our services include:

  • BM3 will plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase and co-ordinate matters relating to health and safety during the pre-construction phase, to ensure that, as far as reasonably practicable and without risks to health and safety whilst taking account of the principles of prevention; identifying and eliminating or controlling foreseeable risks to the health and safety of any person affected by the project. We will advise on appropriate site surveys to ensure they are planned and managed well and we will ensure there is a Designers Risk Assessment (DRA) produced to comply with Regulation 9 of the CDM Regulations 2015, this will be a live document throughout the design and construction period and populated by the whole design team;
  • We attend design team meetings and review the Design Risk Assessment;
  • We provide advice and assist the client to ensure an adequate pre-construction information document is completed.
  • We issue the F10 notification to the Health and Safety Executive;
  • We assist the Client in the review of the principal contractors construction phase plan including risk assessments and method Statements. We will provide confirmation when the documents are deemed to be satisfactory to commence on site and liaise with the principal contractor to share relevant information for the duration of the appointment;
  • We attendance progress meetings as required, carry out an initial site visit to monitor the construction site set up and progress during the early construction period.
  • Assist the principal contractor in the preparation of the Health and Safety File.

Tinkers Green and Kerria

The £19million development completed in 2021 consists of 140 brand new homes across two estates, in Tamworth’s biggest council house building programme for a generation. We’ve collaborated with ENGIE and Tamworth Borough Council to successfully replace the previous outdated properties, the surveys including an Ecological survey was carried out to ensure that protected species would not be adversely impacted by the development.

BM3 were the principal designer of the scheme, we delivered the following processes to ensure full CDM compliance including:

  • Notify the HSE
  • Collect / assemble Pre-Contract Information
  • Ensure that all duty holders are aware of their responsibilities to CDM 2015 regulations and co-ordinate their designs with each other, typically through face to face meetings
  • Review design in terms of H&S
  • Resolve Design Risk issues
  • Review Construction Phase Plan
  • Ensure Construction Phase Plan has been implemented on site
  • Assemble the Health and Safety Plan with assistance from Principal Contractor
  • Offering CDM advice – ensuring everyone understands responsibility commences immediately with feasibility works

Embankment, Birmingham

We understand our requirements in relation to UK Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015) and adhere to these across all projects. We were appointed as the Principal Designer of this exceptional block of 92 one and two bedroomed apartments for private rent, in Birmingham city centre for the Council’s wholly owned InReach Living.

Through our work, we contributed positively to all discussions around design, with health and safety at the forefront. We ensured full CDM compliance for this scheme, BM3’s responsibilities included the provision of advice and guidance to the client and taking reasonable steps to ensure that the other members of the team also fulfill their duties. BM3 reported formally at meetings and through on-going communication with the client, project manager and other project team members.

For this scheme, we were also appointed for services including Architecture, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture.