Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
England-focused reference checklist
Editorial source review: 2026-10-17
https://saeedazarshab.com/articles/england-building-regulations/cdm-2015/

INDEPENDENT GUIDANCE — not project-specific legal/design advice or a compliance certificate. Check the official current requirements and applicable transition.

CDM sets health-and-safety duties across a construction project's planning, design, construction and handover in Great Britain. Duties depend on role and project arrangements, not simply project size or notification status. CDM principal roles must not be confused with England's separate Building Regulations appointments.

WHAT TO CHECK
[ ] Identify the client and determine whether domestic-client arrangements apply.
[ ] Make required principal designer and principal contractor appointments for multi-contractor projects.
[ ] Provide pre-construction information and resolve foreseeable design and sequencing risks early.
[ ] Ensure a suitable construction phase plan and welfare arrangements are in place before construction begins.
[ ] Check notification separately and prepare a health-and-safety file where required, with an identified handover owner.

RECORDS TO KEEP
- CDM appointments, competence enquiries and pre-construction information.
- Design-risk decisions and the current construction phase plan.
- Relevant notification, site arrangements and health-and-safety file handover records.

WHEN TO GET SPECIALIST HELP
Resolve missing appointments, inadequate pre-construction information or unsafe construction arrangements with the client and competent CDM advisers before affected work starts.

SCOPE AND EDITION
Sources reviewed 17 October 2026. CDM 2015 applies in Great Britain, including England. Check the current instrument, domestic-client transfers, appointment triggers and notification criteria separately.

OFFICIAL SOURCES
CDM Regulations 2015 — latest available legislation
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/contents

HSE: CDM responsibilities
https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/responsibilities.htm

HSE: CDM legal requirements summary
https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/legal.htm

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. Original practical summary by Saeed Azarshab.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/