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As we deliver the role of Principal Designer (BR) we have created an in-depth understanding of what the regulations define the role to be. This goes alongside reflection on how the Principal Designer (BR) role fits in with the existing professionals in the project design phase.

The driving goal for us has been to work out a path that delivers the aspiration of better curated, compliant projects without duplicating work or adding unnecessary additional costs to clients.

Although it might seem counterintuitive to expand my workflow, I took the decision to enrol on an ‘AI bootcamp for business’ course run by Bournemouth and Poole College.

This has been transformational for the journey. Although AI cannot do the work for you and does not replace professional judgement, it is a tool that enables the user to cover a huge amount of ground, or reference a large body of information at great speed.

As I’m learning, there is a skill to using AI and it takes a moment to understand the basics of how it works and how it can fit in to your work environment. I think it’s important to be transparent about the use of AI and to this end have created an AI policy which is available on our website.

Whilst AI helps support the production of regulatory-aligned output, I feel that it does lose the ‘human feel’ and can lead to less engaging content. To this end I will note at the bottom of all my future posts as to whether they are ‘AI assisted’ or ‘All Human’.

More on this down the road once I’ve got more experience under my belt.

Since the introduction of the Principal Designer role under the Building Regulations, there has been understandable concern from clients and designers about how the role should be applied on smaller projects.

In some cases, this has led to over-application of procedures designed for large or complex schemes, creating unnecessary cost, delay, and confusion.

This is not what the regulations intend.

What does “proportionate” mean?

The Building Regulations require that duties are discharged in a way that is proportionate to the project.

This means taking into account:

• the size of the works
• the complexity of the design
• the level of building safety risk

A small domestic extension does not carry the same risk profile as a multi-storey residential building — and the Principal Designer role should reflect that.

The risk of a one-size-fits-all approach

Applying heavyweight compliance processes to small projects can:

• discourage early design collaboration
• blur responsibility between designers
• increase fees without increasing safety
• frustrate clients and contractors alike

In the worst cases, it can undermine confidence in the Principal Designer role altogether.

What proportional compliance looks like in practice

For smaller projects, a proportionate Principal Designer service may include:

• early review of the design against Building Regulations
• clear allocation of design responsibility
• focused risk identification (rather than exhaustive registers)
• pragmatic coordination with the Principal Contractor
• clear, concise information provided at handover

The emphasis is on clarity and competence, not volume of paperwork.

Supporting existing project teams

A proportionate approach also allows architects, technicians, and engineers to focus on the work they do best, while ensuring that regulatory coordination is properly managed.

The Principal Designer role should support the design team — not duplicate it.

Getting it right from the start

For clients, understanding that the Principal Designer role can be scaled appropriately is key to achieving compliance without unnecessary complexity.

For designers, it provides reassurance that meeting regulatory duties does not mean adopting processes that are disproportionate to the task at hand.

At PD Service, we specialise in delivering practical, proportionate Principal Designer services, particularly for smaller and low-risk projects — ensuring compliance while keeping projects moving.

The Principal Designer role is intended to be part of the design process. When approached proportionately and with clarity, it supports better coordination, clearer responsibility, and a compliant project being handed over to the Principal Contractor for construction.

In practice, the role is often misunderstood. It is not about taking over design work or duplicating existing professional responsibilities. It is about ensuring that design risk and regulatory requirements are managed coherently across the project.

What the role is intended to do

The Principal Designer role exists to plan, manage, and coordinate design work in relation to building safety and compliance.

In practical terms, this means:

• supporting coordination across disciplines
• ensuring that relevant design information is identified, managed, and reviewed
• maintaining clarity around responsibility as the design develops
• helping the project team remain aligned with regulatory expectations

The role should be scaled to suit the size and complexity of the project.

What the role is not

A Principal Designer does not replace the architect, engineer, or specialist designers.

Designers remain responsible for their own design work. The Principal Designer role sits alongside those responsibilities, providing oversight and coordination rather than authorship or control.

When undertaken properly, the role should reduce friction rather than create it.

Working with established design teams

On most projects, design teams are already established by the time a Principal Designer is appointed.

In these situations, the role works best when it is embedded within the existing design process. Other professionals continue to operate within their traditional roles, while the Principal Designer focuses on coordination, information flow, and proportionate governance.

This approach reflects current guidance and supports collaborative working.

Closing

The Principal Designer role is still developing across the industry. When applied with clarity and proportionality, it supports better outcomes for clients, design teams, and regulators alike.

If you would like to discuss how the role applies to a specific project, please get in touch via the Contact page.