For projects requiring Building Control approval, the appointment of a Principal Designer (Building Regulations) is a statutory requirement under the current building safety regime.
We provide independent Principal Designer services, supporting project teams to meet their duties under the Building Regulations clearly, proportionately, and in line with current government guidance.
Our service
We provide Principal Designer (Building Regulations) services tailored to the scale, complexity, and risk profile of each project.
At appointment, we review the nature of the works and establish a proportionate level of oversight, ensuring that smaller or lower-risk projects are not subject to unnecessary process or administrative burden, while more complex schemes receive the appropriate level of coordination and governance.
Our role is to plan, manage, and coordinate design work insofar as it relates to Building Regulations compliance, supporting clear decision-making and effective information flow as designs develop.
Where required, our service continues into the construction phase. We liaise with the appointed Principal Contractor in relation to design change, supporting the monitoring and management of compliance-relevant information where changes arise, and assisting with the coordination of compliance-critical records and dutyholder declarations at project completion.
Our Principal Designer services are delivered by designated individuals who meet the competence requirements for the role, in accordance with the Building Regulations and PAS 8671.
Our role in the design team
The Principal Designer role is not separate from design — it operates alongside it.
We facilitate architects, engineers, and specialist designers to carry out their traditional professional duties, ensuring that regulatory considerations are addressed through coordinated design development.
- Curating design information into a coherent, compliant package
- Structured governance across design stages
- Coordinating the handover of the design package to the Principal Contractor to support the next phase of the project
This allows the design team to operate effectively while meeting statutory requirements.
How this works in practice
- Clear compliance without duplication
- No dilution of professional roles
- Proportionate oversight aligned with project scale and complexity
- A clearly defined Principal Designer function supporting coordination and regulatory assurance
This reflects current government guidance and supports collaborative, well-managed design development.
Who we support
- Clients and developers seeking clarity and assurance
- Architects acting as lead designers
- Engineers and specialist consultants
- Small to medium project teams without in-house Principal Designer capability
Get in touch
If you need a Principal Designer who works with your design team — rather than around it — we’re happy to talk.
Initial discussions are informal and obligation-free.