Construction phase plan under CDM 2015: what it must cover

Who needs a construction phase plan

Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), every construction project needs a construction phase plan (CPP), whatever its size and whether or not it is notifiable to HSE. That includes small and domestic projects.

• Where there is more than one contractor, the principal contractor must draw up the plan (regulation 12).
• Where there is only one contractor, that contractor must draw it up (regulation 15).
• The client must make sure a plan is drawn up before the construction phase begins (regulation 4).

When it's needed

The plan must be drawn up during the pre-construction phase, before the construction site is set up. It must then be reviewed, updated and revised as the work progresses, so it stays accurate as the job changes.

A project is notifiable to HSE (using form F10) if the construction work is expected to last more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point, or to exceed 500 person days. Notification doesn't change whether a CPP is needed; it is needed either way.

What the plan must cover

Regulation 12 requires the plan to set out the health and safety arrangements and site rules for the project, taking account of the industry in which the work is carried out, and, where relevant, the specific measures for work in Schedule 3. HSE's guidance on the regulations, Managing health and safety in construction (L153), lists what should be considered. In summary:

Description of the project

• Project description and programme details, including key dates
• Details of the client, principal designer, principal contractor and other key people
• Extent and location of existing records and pre-construction information

Management of the work

• The management structure and responsibilities
• Health and safety aims for the project
• Site rules
• Arrangements for planning, managing and monitoring the work, including communication and co-operation between contractors
• Site induction, training, and consultation with workers
• Welfare facilities, which must meet Schedule 2 of CDM 2015 from the start
• Fire and emergency procedures
• Arrangements for reporting accidents and incidents
• Production of the health and safety file, where there is a principal designer

Control of significant site risks

• Site security and keeping the public out of the work area
• Delivery, storage and removal of materials and waste
• Traffic routes and segregating vehicles from pedestrians
• Buried and overhead services
• Stability of structures, temporary works and demolition
• Work at height, excavations, lifting operations and confined spaces
• Hazardous substances, dust, noise, vibration, asbestos and manual handling

Schedule 3 work

Schedule 3 lists work with particular risks, such as work near high-voltage power lines, work with a risk of falling more than two metres or of burial, drowning or falling into water, work involving diving, explosives or heavy prefabricated components, and work in tunnels or wells. Where any of this applies, the plan must set out the specific measures.

Keep it proportionate

HSE is clear that the plan should be proportionate to the size and risks of the project. A two-week refurbishment doesn't need the same document as a multi-storey new build, but it still needs a plan written for that job. A plan copied from another project, with the wrong site rules or risks, doesn't meet the duty.

How we can help

We write construction phase plans for the job you're running: £195 ex VAT for minor works and £425 ex VAT for a full or notifiable project. Standard issue is 1–2 working days, delivered in Word and PDF so you can keep it updated as the work progresses.

See CPP prices and order

Common questions

Do small or domestic jobs need a construction phase plan?

Yes. CDM 2015 requires a construction phase plan for every construction project, including domestic work. It should be proportionate to the size and risk of the job.

Who writes the construction phase plan?

The principal contractor where there is more than one contractor, or the contractor where there is only one. The client must make sure one is in place before the construction phase starts.

Is a construction phase plan the same as the health and safety file?

No. The CPP covers how the work will be managed safely during construction. The health and safety file, needed where there is more than one contractor, holds information for anyone working on the building afterwards.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always follow your principal contractor's requirements, the manufacturer's instructions and the HSE guidance referred to above.