Principal Designer
Managing health and safety risk from concept through to completion
FFT provides Principal Designer support under CDM 2015, helping clients plan, manage and monitor health and safety risk from concept through to completion.
Our experienced team works across new build, refurbishment and planned maintenance projects, embedding proportionate design‑stage risk management to ensure foreseeable hazards are identified early and addressed through informed design decisions.
We coordinate duty holders, review design information and ensure pre‑construction documentation is complete, accurate and aligned with CDM requirements. By integrating health and safety considerations into design development and project governance, we support clients in fulfilling their legal duties and delivering projects that are safe, compliant and buildable.
I am very satisfied with FFT’s work as Principal Designer / CDM Advisor. Risks were identified at an early stage and effectively mitigated within the construction programme. I would be happy to work with FFT again in the future.
Ian Johnson Senior Project Manager and Dacorum Borough Council
Reducing risk, improving coordination and providing assurance
FFT’s dedicated CDM Principal Designer team brings long‑standing experience under CDM 2015 and earlier regulations, enabling a consistent, proven and adaptable approach. Our methodology aligns with APS best practice and focuses on early risk identification, strong coordination between duty holders and clear, accessible communication at every stage.
We embed health and safety considerations into design reviews, technical documentation and construction‑phase planning, supported by proportionate site visits and structured reporting. This proactive approach helps prevent risks being designed into projects, reduces the likelihood of late‑stage redesign and provides clients with visible assurance that CDM duties are being actively discharged, supporting safer construction and smoother project delivery.
FAQs
The Principal Designer is responsible for planning, managing and monitoring healthand safety during the pre-construction phase. This includes identifying and reducingdesign risks, coordinating designers, preparing pre-construction information andsupporting the client in meeting their legal duties under CDM 2015.
A Principal Designer should be appointed as soon as more than one contractor isinvolved, ideally at the earliest design stage. Early appointment allows risks to beeliminated or reduced before they are designed into the project.
FFT goes beyond minimum compliance by influencing design decisions, improvingbuildability and reducing future maintenance risks. Our proactive approach helpsminimise redesign, programme delays and long-term operational risk.
Yes. We carry out proportionate site inspections to verify that design risk controlsare being implemented and to identify emerging risks that may require design ormethodology review.
Get in touch
Planning a project or reviewing your CDM arrangements?
Get in touch with our experienced Principal Designer team to see how FFT can support you.