Principal Designer Building Regulations

Principal Designer Building Regulations: The Complete Guide

BR principal designer vs CDM principal designer

BR Principal Designer vs CDM Principal Designer:What’s the Difference?

Building Regulations Principal Designer

The UK’s specialist Building Regulations Principal Designer service.

Appointing the right Building Regulations Principal Designer (BRPD) is now a legal and strategic necessity.

Under <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/part/2A">Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010</a>, clients must appoint a designer with control over the design work as the principal designer wherever more than one contractor is, or is likely to be, involved — and do so before construction begins (or, for Higher-Risk Buildings, before submitting the application to the Regulator).

We deliver a turnkey BRPD service that plans, manages, monitors and coordinates the design to ensure the built outcome will comply with all relevant requirements of the Building Regulations. We align our competency and approach to PAS 8671:2022, the national framework for Principal Designer competence.

What is the Building Regulations Principal Designer?

The Building Regulations Principal Designer is the dutyholder who:

Plans, manages and monitors the design during the design phase; and

Coordinates design matters so that, if built in accordance with the design, the work would comply with all applicable Building Regulations requirements.

This role is distinct from (but can be combined with) the <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/services/cdm">CDM Principal Designer</a>. Clients may certify their CDM PD to act as the Building Regulations Principal Designer if that organisation genuinely has control of the design and meets competence requirements.

Client duty to appoint: where more than one contractor is involved (or reasonably foreseeable), the client must appoint in writing a principal designer with control over the design work. For Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs), this appointment must be made before the building control application goes to the Regulator.

Competence: a principal designer (whether an individual or an organisation) must have the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours — or organisational capability — to fulfil the duties, and (if an organisation) must designate a competent individual to manage the PD functions.

Statements at completion/occupation: Principal Designers must provide a signed statement confirming they fulfilled their duties under Part 2A; this feeds into the client’s notification to Building Control at completion and, where relevant, prior to early occupation.

Our Building Regulations Principal Designer service

We act as your single point of accountability for design compliance. Our scope is built directly from the statutory PD duties and competence expectations:

Compliance leadership throughout design
<ul class="wp-block-list has-medium-font-size">
<li>Establish the compliance strategy, aligning design outputs to Schedule 1 and other relevant requirements.</li>



<li>Plan, manage and monitor multi-disciplinary design activities, with key deliverable and milestones tied to compliance evidence.</li>
</ul>
Establish the compliance strategy, aligning design outputs to Schedule 1 and other relevant requirements.Plan, manage and monitor multi-disciplinary design activities, with key deliverable and milestones tied to compliance evidence.

Coordination and challenge
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Coordinate the design work of all designers so the integrated design, if built, would comply.</li>



<li>Proactively appraise and challenge design proposals to reach consensus on compliance — not just “box-tick”.</li>
</ul>
Coordinate the design work of all designers so the integrated design, if built, would comply.Proactively appraise and challenge design proposals to reach consensus on compliance — not just “box-tick”.

Information management
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Define and operate the compliance information plan (inputs, decisions, assumptions, and evidence), ensuring sufficient information is provided to enable others to comply.</li>
</ul>
Define and operate the compliance information plan (inputs, decisions, assumptions, and evidence), ensuring sufficient information is provided to enable others to comply.

HRB readiness (where applicable)
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Integrate HRB-specific controls, including early identification and communication that the project includes HRB work and its nature.</li>



<li>Support the client’s record-keeping on competence checks for appointments linked to HRB projects.</li>
</ul>
Integrate HRB-specific controls, including early identification and communication that the project includes HRB work and its nature.Support the client’s record-keeping on competence checks for appointments linked to HRB projects.

Competence assurance
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Provide demonstrable competence in line with Reg. 11G and the PAS 8671 competence framework (behavioural, legislative/regulatory, management of design compliance, technical).</li>
</ul>
Provide demonstrable competence in line with Reg. 11G and the PAS 8671 competence framework (behavioural, legislative/regulatory, management of design compliance, technical).

Handover and statutory statements
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Compile and issue the Principal Designer duty fulfilment statement required at completion/occupation notifications, supporting the client’s legal submissions.</li>
</ul>
Compile and issue the Principal Designer duty fulfilment statement required at completion/occupation notifications, supporting the client’s legal submissions.

What We Do (Building Regulations Principal Designer Process)

Confirm dutyholder structure, appointment timing, and applicable Regs/Schedule 1 parts; certify CDM PD alignment where suitable.

Define the compliance route, evidence plan, and design hold-points aligned to PD duties.

Lead interdisciplinary reviews; challenge assumptions; document design decisions and compliance evidence; ensure cooperation among designers and contractors.

Embed HRB notifications/information flows and maintain the client’s appointment records.

Support responses to design queries during construction and maintain the compliance record so the built work follows the compliant design.

Prepare PD statements confirming duty fulfilment for the client’s statutory notifications.

Regulatory accuracy, first time: Our methodology is anchored directly to principal designer duties and the competence standard - reducing re-design and approval risk.

PAS 8671-aligned competence: We structure our team competence to the national PD competence framework - giving clients confidence when discharging their appointment duties.

Evidence-led: We curate clear, auditable compliance records to support Building Control and client notifications.

Seamless with CDM: Where appropriate, <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/news/br-principal-designer-vs-cdm-principal-designerwhats-the-difference">we integrate with (or certify) your CDM PD</a> arrangements to streamline appointments without compromising control of design compliance.

HRB specialists: Robust HRB processes for information, competence checks and record-keeping.

Formal Principal Designer appointment proposal and dutyholder structure plan.

Project-specific Compliance Strategy &amp; Evidence Plan (Schedule 1 mapping, tests, inspections).

Coordinated design review outputs and actions to close compliance gaps.

Information coordination (sufficient info to designers/contractors to enable compliance).

HRB information and appointment records (if applicable).

PD duty-fulfilment statement for completion/early occupation notifications.

Legal Basis - Building Regulations Principal Designer

Appointment &amp; timing: clients must appoint a designer with control of the design as principal designer; for HRBs, before submitting to the Regulator; otherwise before construction.

Competence: PD must have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours (or organisational capability), with a designated competent individual managing PD functions.

PD duties: plan, manage, monitor and coordinate design so that, if built in accordance with the design, the work would comply with the Regulations; ensure cooperation and provide sufficient information.

Completion/occupation statements: PD must confirm duty fulfilment as part of client notifications to the relevant authority.

Competence framework: Anstey Horne aligns PD competence with PAS 8671 categories (behavioural, legislative/regulatory, management of design compliance, technical).

FAQs : Building Regulations Principal Designer

Is the BR Principal Designer the same as the CDM PD?

No. The key difference is their focus: the CDM PD focuses on health and safety during the construction process, while the BR PD focuses on the technical compliance of the finished building itself to ensure it is safe and fit for purpose. A client may certify their CDM PD as the BR PD, but only if that party has control of the design and meets competence thresholds. See our <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/news/principal-designer-building-regulations-the-complete-guide">complete guide to the BR Principal Designer</a> role for more information.

When must we appoint the BR Principal Designer?

Where more than one contractor is involved/foreseeable, the client must appoint in writing; for HRBs this must be before the Building Control application to the Regulator; otherwise before construction begins.

They must have the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours (or organisational capability) to fulfil PD duties and - for organisations - designate a competent individual to manage the PD function.

The PD provides a signed statement confirming they fulfilled their PD duties; this is included in the client’s completion/occupation notifications to the relevant authority.

Whether you’re planning a complex residential HRB, mixed-use scheme, or a phased commercial fit-out, getting approval means more than ticking boxes – it demands clear, well-structured evidence that your design meets all legal safety and quality standards.

The Building Safety Regulator won’t tell you how to comply with building regulation requirements or provide pre-application advice.

Our team, comprising of RICS and CIOB chartered surveyors (MRICS &amp; MCIOB) and chartered building engineers (C. Build MCABE), possess the necessary competence and experience to act as Building Regulations Principal Designer.

We have in-depth knowledge of Building Regulations and the Gateway Process and adhere to PAS 8671, a rigorous framework for assessing our competency and expertise to ensure we meet the highest standards.

To arrange a no-obligation consultation – please call <a href="tel:02045343130">020 4534 3130</a>.

If you rather we called you, or for further information on the role of Building Regulations Principal Designer <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/contact-us#contact">please fill in our contact form and we will be in touch</a>.

For more information on all aspects of the BR Principal Designer role see the <a href="https://www.ansteyhorne.co.uk/blogs/building-regulations-principal-designer">collection of articles in our blog</a>.

Contact Us

To discuss the Building Regulations Principal Designer role for your project please call <a href="tel:02045343130">020 4534 3130</a>.
 
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Principal Designer Building Regulations: The Complete Guide

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