Construction, Design & Management (CDM)

A construction worker wearing a high-visibility vest and a hard hat stands on a construction site and takes a photo or video of a man using a tablet. Construction equipment is visible in the background.

If you are planning construction work, the law expects you to manage health and safety from the very first idea, not from the day the diggers arrive. That is what CDM is about. Get it right and your project runs smoothly, stays compliant and protects everyone on site. Get it wrong and you carry the legal and financial risk.

Whether you are a homeowner planning an extension, a contractor on a commercial fit-out, or a developer running a multi-phase build, we make CDM simple. We handle the duties, the documents and the detail, so you can get on with the job.

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What is CDM?

CDM stands for Construction, Design and Management. It is a set of legal duties designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of everyone involved in a construction project, from the people on site to those who use or maintain the building years later.

In Great Britain these are the CDM Regulations 2015, enforced by the HSE. In Northern Ireland they are the CDM Regulations (NI) 2016, enforced by HSENI. They work in much the same way, and we support clients under both.

The rules apply to all construction work, from a small self-build to a high-rise tower and everything in between. They cover every phase of a project, including design, planning, the build itself and future maintenance, so nothing is left to chance.

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Core Principles of CDM

To ensure that CDM Regulations are managed effectively during the build-up to your project starting, there are 5 core principles to keep in mind:

  • Eliminate, reduce or control risks before the workforce arrives on-site.

  • Ensure there is a dedicated person on-site, responsible for managing the process and the appointment of third-party support (Paul Feely & Associates)

  • A plan is useless if only one person in the team knows what it is. Ensure that everyone on-site understands the objectives and is adequately briefed on the plan.

  • Make health & safety the number one priority on-site and ensure everyone understands their role.

  • Keep safety at the forefront of every stage of the project during the planning phase. 

A safety helmet with a headlamp and protective visor placed on a white table in a modern office waiting area with yellow and blue chairs, a blue wall with the Paul Feely + associates logo, and a desk with a computer and a vase of yellow sunflowers.
A construction worker wearing a yellow safety vest, white helmet, and glasses holding a tablet, standing on a construction site with metal framework and green trees in the background.

What Does Our CDM Service Include?

Client CDM Advisor

We support you with your legal responsibilities as the client, and make sure your Principal Designer and Principal Contractor are meeting their agreed duties. We help keep your project costs on target and make sure a Construction Phase Plan is in place before work begins.

You also get health and safety support and guidance for the full duration of the project, including the management, handling and communication of any on-site incidents or accidents.

Two construction workers wearing yellow safety vests and hard hats inspecting documents near a white vehicle at a construction site.

Principal Designer 

Sit back and enjoy your cuppa while it is still hot for a change. Your own Principal Designer from Paul Feely and Associates produces a clear document that identifies the risks linked to the site and the proposed works.

They work with everyone involved in the pre-construction phase to bring a shared commitment to safety, so the whole team is pulling in the same direction before anyone sets foot on site.

A thorough health and safety file is built during this phase, giving everyone an accessible record of the key safety information. It is ideal for future contractors, maintenance teams and building owners, keeping people safe long after the project is finished.

We also make sure the Principal Contractor has everything they need to manage and monitor the construction work in line with current regulations.

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Essential Support for Contractors

Take the guesswork out of your project and sleep soundly, knowing your health and safety is in the best hands. The paperwork and the on-site detail are where most contractors come unstuck, not because they cut corners, but because the demands of CDM pile up fast once a job is live. We take that weight off you. From risk assessments and method statements to COSHH assessments, we make sure the right documents are in place, written clearly, and ready to stand up to scrutiny if a regulator ever comes knocking.

Beyond the paperwork, we keep you covered on the ground. Our team carries out on-site health and safety inspections to catch issues before they become problems, and we deliver toolbox talks that your team will actually take something from, rather than tune out of. The result is a site that runs safely, a workforce that knows what is expected of them, and one less thing for you to lose sleep over.

Two construction workers wearing safety vests and helmets, one with a tablet, standing among concrete pillars outdoors.

Construction Phase Plan 

The construction phase is where the design finally comes to life, and it needs a solid Construction Phase Plan behind it. This is the document that sets out the health and safety arrangements, the site rules and the specific measures for managing risk while the work is underway. Without one in place before work starts, you are not just exposed legally, you are running a site without a clear plan for keeping people safe.

We work with you and your stakeholders to produce a plan that is straightforward, easy to follow and genuinely useful on site, not a box-ticking document that sits in a drawer. As the project moves forward and new contractors join, we review and update it to reflect what has changed, so it stays accurate and relevant throughout. The result is full compliance, protection and peace of mind from the first day on site to the last.

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Site Safety Inspections

Regular site inspections that you actually look forward to, keeping the site safe and compliant for everyone on it. Carried out by our experienced health and safety professionals, each visit checks that you are working in line with the latest legal requirements.

Having our team on site also helps you spot potential problems before they turn into something serious, protecting everyone involved and keeping your project on track.

After each visit you get a digital action plan, tailored to your site. It shows what is working and what needs attention, and gives you clear next steps to take.

Construction site with two workers in bright yellow safety vests and white hard hats supervising a worker operating an orange lift. One supervisor holds a tablet and the other points towards the construction area, with a white service vehicle parked nearby that has a company logo and slogan.

Your Questions, Answered

  • If your project involves construction, refurbishment, maintenance or demolition, CDM regulations apply. A CDM advisor helps you meet your legal duties, manage health and safety risks, and ensure the right CDM documentation is in place.

    You should consider appointing a CDM advisor if your project involves more than one contractor, complex works, or you are unsure about your responsibilities under CDM 2015.

  • A Principal Designer plans, manages and monitors health and safety during the pre-construction phase. They identify risks early, coordinate everyone involved in the design, and pull together the health and safety file that protects people during and after the build.

  • A Construction Phase Plan is required for every construction project before work starts. It sets out how health and safety will be managed on site. We can write yours, or review one you already have.

  • Yes. Northern Ireland follows the CDM Regulations (NI) 2016, enforced by HSENI, while Great Britain follows CDM 2015, enforced by the HSE. We support clients across Northern Ireland, the UK and Ireland.

Need expert support for your project?

Whether you’re at design stage or preparing for construction, we’ll help you understand your duties, manage risk and keep your project moving with confidence.

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