Just over two years on from the introduction of the new Regulations in April 2015
and arguably the dust continues to settle. Clients remain at varying degrees of clarity
regarding their duties and as for the role of Principal Designer (PD) this is still seemingly
very much ‘up for grabs’ or indeed ‘a hot potato’.
The role of Client CDM Advisor is not one required or referenced in the CDM
Regulations (albeit the supporting guidance does make mention of drawing upon
competent support) and yet numerous Clients still seek advice and assurance regarding
their duties and support in delivering against them even on some small scale schemes
of limited complexity. An advisory role has therefore come to fruition to fill this niche
providing targeted CDM and H&S support to Clients where needed. We have seen
tenders issued for CDM Advisory roles on
frameworks and for large scale standalone
projects where clients are looking for ongoing
monitoring of their Principal Designer and
Principal Contractor appointments. Given
the continuing uncertainty among Clients
regarding their duties it is likely that such
advisory roles will continue to be seen on
procurement portals for some time to come.
Regarding the role of Principal Designer
whilst some architects have taken it on from
the outset others are only more recently
deciding that they will accept it, albeit perhaps
under duress, as to not would mean them
missing out on tenders and wider opportunities in general. Architects have therefore
been making targeted appointments and training internally to be better positioned
to take on the Principal Designer role but there are still many in the market seeking
specialist support particularly on more complex jobs and sub consultancy appointments
(advisory roles) are generally filling this gap.
That said, the role of Principal Designer does not necessarily sit with the architect and
we continue to see independent Principal Designer appointments being made. There
continues to be much debate in the market around who should and can be the Principal
Designer and there are still many that would argue that an independent party with the
appropriate skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the build in question is the
preferred solution.
With the above in mind it is perhaps not surprising that we continue to see Tenders
being issued with the Principal Designer appointment sitting with various parties. Since
the inception of the 2015 Regulations there has been no clear pattern emerge and we
are still seeing the PD role being advertised in any one of the following scenarios and
given the ongoing debate around the role this is unlikely to change any time soon:
• Turnkey appointment
• Architect and PD
• Project Manager and PD
• Cost Manager and PD
• Standalone PD
• PD and CDM Advisor
Steve Udall, Associate Director
CDM 2015 : 2 YEARS AND COUNTING
