A Construction Phase Plan (CPP) ensures that health and safety is properly considered throughout a project’s development, helping to reduce the risk of harm to those who build, use, and maintain the structure.
A CPP is a legal requirement under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) and applies to every construction project, regardless of size, duration, or complexity.
Responsibility for the Construction Phase Plan
Responsibility for preparing the Construction Phase Plan depends on how many contractors are involved in the project.
Where more than one contractor is working on site, the Principal Contractor is responsible for preparing the CPP. The level of detail required will depend on the nature of the project and the length of time it is intended to run.
Where there is only one contractor, the CPP must be prepared or arranged by that contractor.
Construction work must not begin until a suitable Construction Phase Plan is in place.
What Our Construction Phase Plans Include
Our Construction Phase Plans are project-specific documents, prepared to reflect the nature of the works, the site conditions, and the risks involved. They are not generic templates and are designed to be clear, practical, and easy to follow on site.
Clear Roles and Responsibilities
Each CPP clearly identifies:
The Principal Contractor (or contractor where only one is involved)
Key duty holders under CDM 2015
Site management and supervisory arrangements
This ensures everyone understands who is responsible for what from the outset.
Site-Specific Planning and Management
Our plans set out how the construction phase will be managed, including:
Site set-up, access, and egress arrangements
Communication and coordination methods
Site inductions, briefings, and toolbox talks
Welfare facilities and arrangements
These details are tailored to the project and reviewed as work progresses.
Health and Safety Arrangements and Site Rules
Each Construction Phase Plan includes:
Site rules and control measures
Emergency procedures (fire, first aid, incidents)
Arrangements to protect workers, visitors, and the public
Consideration of environmental and structural risks
This helps ensure the site operates safely and consistently.
Risk Management for Construction Activities
Our CPPs address how risks will be identified, managed, and reviewed, including:
Higher-risk activities such as working at height, excavations, and lifting operations
Interfaces between trades
Changes to the scope of works
The plan is designed to remain a live document, updated as risks evolve.
Ongoing Review and Site Support
As part of our service, Safety CDM Ltd can provide regular site visits to review the Construction Phase Plan and update it where necessary.
This ensures the plan continues to reflect actual site conditions and supports ongoing compliance with CDM 2015 throughout the construction phase.
Keeping the Construction Phase Plan Up to Date
A Construction Phase Plan is not a one-off document. It must remain a live document, reviewed and updated as the project develops and site conditions change.
As part of our service, Safety CDM Ltd can offer regular site visits to ensure the Construction Phase Plan is continually reviewed and updated where necessary. This is particularly important as projects progress, work activities change, and new hazards emerge.
What the Construction Phase Plan Covers
The Construction Phase Plan sets out the health and safety arrangements and site rules associated with activities taking place on site. It brings together key elements of:
Planning and organising the construction works
Managing the site, access, and day-to-day activities
Controlling health and safety risks during construction
The plan should clearly explain how risks will be managed and be easy to understand, with key information and procedures clearly outlined for those working on site.
Using CDM expertise from Safety CDM Ltd, specialists in construction health and safety under the CDM 2015 Regulations, helps ensure your Construction Phase Plan is practical, proportionate, and fully compliant.
