Principal Designer (PD) — role + scope
PD under CDM 2015 (existing) + Building Regulations Part 2A (BSA 2022 amendment from October 2023). Pre-existing CDM PD: coordinates pre-construction phase, manages design risk, ensures relevant info passed to PC. New BSA PD: additional duty to ensure design + plans comply with Building Regulations. Must be appointed before construction starts in writing. Competence: design qualifications + Building Regs knowledge + relevant experience. On Builderr projects: typically the architect appointed as PD if design-led; for design-and-build, Builderr's in-house project manager is PD. PD appointment includes formal acceptance + scope letter + competence statement.
Principal Contractor (PC) — role + scope
PC under CDM 2015 + BSA 2022. Construction phase coordinator + competence verifier for trade contractors + supervises Building Regs compliance during construction + manages golden thread updates during build. Must be appointed before construction starts in writing. Competence: contractor qualifications (Trustmark, CIOB, FMB) + Building Regs experience + safety record + adequate insurance. Builderr is PC on all our build projects. PC duty includes: written method statements + competence checks on subcontractors + photographic record of compartmentation + fire-stopping + golden thread file.
Domestic Client + dutyholder transfer
Where Client is a private individual having work on own home (Domestic Client): full statutory duties transfer to PC by default (or PD if no PC appointed). Domestic Client still has duty to appoint competent PD + PC + check competence + provide site access + cooperate. Practical impact for Builderr clients: (1) we explain duties at quote stage; (2) we provide written appointment letter + competence statement when accepting work; (3) we manage all statutory record-keeping + golden thread; (4) client receives golden thread file at handover. No additional cost to client — included in standard project management.
