If you are about to start a building project in the UK, you will hear the phrase construction phase plan very quickly. It sounds like paperwork for its own sake, but it is one of the most useful documents on any site, and in most cases it is a legal requirement.
This guide explains what the document is, who has to write it, what goes in it and how to keep it practical. We have written it for homeowners, developers and small contractors who want a clear answer without wading through legal language.
What is a construction phase plan?
It is a document that sets out how health and safety will be managed during the construction phase of a project. It covers the arrangements for the site, the main risks and how they will be controlled, and who is responsible for what.
The requirement comes from the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, usually shortened to CDM 2015. Under these regulations, every construction project needs a plan before the construction phase begins, regardless of how large or small it is.
Think of it as the site’s operating manual for health and safety. It should be proportionate to the job. A plan for a single-storey rear extension should be short and clear, while a plan for a multi-storey development will be longer and more detailed.
Who has to prepare the plan?
Responsibility depends on how many contractors are involved. If there is more than one contractor on the project, the principal contractor must draw up the plan. If there is only one contractor, that contractor is responsible for preparing it.
The client plays an important part too. Clients must make sure the plan is in place before the construction phase starts, and they must give the contractor the information needed to write it, such as survey reports, asbestos information and details of existing services.
Domestic clients often assume the responsibility has passed to them in full. In practice, if you are having work done to your own home, your duties are normally picked up by the contractor, or by the principal designer if more than one contractor is involved. It is still worth understanding the process so you can ask the right questions.
Is a construction phase plan always required?
Yes. A plan is needed for every project that falls under CDM 2015. What changes is the level of detail and whether the project must also be notified to the Health and Safety Executive.
A project must be notified to the HSE if it will last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point, or if it will exceed 500 person days. Many smaller jobs will not meet that threshold, but they still need a plan.
What should a construction phase plan include?
The HSE guidance sets out the main headings. A good plan is built around the following:
- Project description: a summary of the work, key dates, the project team and who the client, designers and contractors are.
- Management of the work: health and safety aims, site rules, who is responsible for what, how workers will be consulted and how contractors will be managed.
- Arrangements for controlling significant site risks: how you will deal with the main hazards on the job, such as working at height, excavations, asbestos, lifting operations and traffic.
- Welfare and site set-up: toilets, washing facilities, first aid, site security and emergency arrangements.
- Health and safety file arrangements: how information about the finished building will be collected so it is ready for handover.
Do not worry if the plan looks like a lot of headings. On a small project, each one may be only a few lines. The aim is to show that risks have been thought about and that everyone on site knows what is expected.
Construction phase plan example: a typical home extension
A practical example helps. Imagine a two-storey side extension on a house in Hampshire, built by one main contractor with a few specialist subcontractors.
The project description would give the address, programme and contact details. Site management would state that the contractor is responsible for day-to-day safety, that all visitors must sign in and that a daily briefing takes place. The key risks might include working at height on the scaffold, excavation for foundations, existing services in the ground, manual handling of materials and dust from cutting.
For each risk, the plan would say how it will be controlled: a properly erected scaffold inspected weekly, services located with a scan before digging, mechanical lifting aids for heavy items and dust suppression during cutting. The plan would also list the welfare provision, such as a toilet and hand washing on site, and where the first aid kit is kept.
Written well, a plan like that might take only a few pages. It does not need to be complicated. It needs to be accurate, specific to the site and understood by the people doing the work.
Common site risks to cover
Every site is different, but some risks come up again and again. As you write your plan, think about whether each of these applies.
- Work at height, including scaffolds, roof work and ladders.
- Excavations and groundwork, including collapse and buried services.
- Asbestos, particularly in older buildings that are being refurbished.
- Manual handling and the safe movement of heavy materials.
- Site traffic, deliveries and the safety of the public and neighbours.
- Fire safety, hot work and the storage of flammable materials.
- Noise, dust and vibration.
- Electrical safety and temporary power supplies.
If you are managing the project’s costs as well, it helps to connect the plan to your budget. The measures you need to control risk, such as scaffolding, welfare facilities or specialist surveys, all carry a cost. Including them early avoids a nasty surprise later. Our guide to getting a schedule of works right explains how to make sure those items are not missed.
Planning ahead in the pre-construction stage
The plan does not appear from nowhere. It builds on work done in the pre-construction phase, and the sooner that work starts, the easier the plan becomes. Surveys, design information, risk assessments and the programme all feed into it.
That is one reason why good early-stage work pays off. A proper feasibility study in construction helps to identify access problems, ground conditions and constraints before anyone picks up a spade. Those findings can go straight into your risk section, so the plan is based on real information rather than guesswork.
When should the plan be written and reviewed?
The plan must be drawn up before the construction phase starts, and before the site is set up. Do not wait until the first day on site. A plan written in a hurry is less likely to reflect the real risks.
It must also be kept under review. If the design changes, a new subcontractor arrives or the work moves into a different phase, the plan should be updated. Keep a version log with dates, so it is clear which version was current at any time.
Share the plan with everyone who needs it. Workers and subcontractors should be told what is in it, and relevant parts should be easy to see on site, for example in the welfare cabin.
Mistakes that make a plan useless
The most common problem is a generic plan copied from another job. Inspectors and clients can spot these quickly, because they do not mention the actual site, the actual risks or the actual team.
- Using a template without editing it to suit the project.
- Writing a long document that nobody reads, rather than a short one that people use.
- Forgetting to update the plan when the scope changes.
- Leaving out welfare and emergency arrangements.
- Not telling subcontractors what the plan says.
- Treating it as something the client files rather than a live working document.
How the plan connects to costs and value
Safety is not an extra cost on top of the project; it is part of the project. Pricing for site set-up, welfare, scaffolding and temporary works should all appear in your estimate. A cost consultant can check that these items are properly allowed for, rather than being squeezed out when the budget gets tight.
It also connects to the way you cut costs. If you are looking at ways to reduce the price, our article on value engineering to cut construction costs explains how to save money without compromising safety, quality or compliance.
Who checks the plan on site?
The principal contractor, or the sole contractor, is responsible for making sure the plan is followed day to day. In practice that means the site manager walks the site, speaks to the team and checks that the controls described on paper are actually in place. If scaffold inspections are meant to happen weekly, there should be a record that they did.
The HSE can ask to see the document during a site visit, so it should be easy to find and up to date. Clients and their advisers also benefit from checking it from time to time. A quick conversation with the site manager, asking how a particular risk is being handled, tells you more than a thick folder of paperwork ever could.
Keeping records without drowning in paperwork
Good records do not have to be heavy. A simple site diary, a visitor sign-in sheet, inspection checklists and a log of toolbox talks will cover most of what you need on a small or medium project. Many contractors now use apps and shared folders, which makes it easier to keep everything in one place and to share updates with the client.
The important point is that records are made at the time, not recreated afterwards. If an accident or near miss happens, the notes you have kept will show what was done and help you learn from it.
Choosing a contractor who takes safety seriously
When you are comparing tenders, ask each contractor how they manage health and safety and to show an example of a plan they have prepared. A confident, organised answer is a good sign. Vague replies, or a plan that reads like a template, are warning signs.
Cheaper is not always better. A tender that looks very low may have left out welfare, scaffolding or temporary works, and you could end up paying for them later through variations. Comparing prices on a like-for-like basis, with every item clearly described, protects you from that. This is exactly where an independent cost consultant can help.
Frequently asked questions
Does a homeowner need a construction phase plan?
Yes, the project needs one, but the contractor usually prepares it. If you appoint more than one contractor, a principal contractor should be appointed to do so. As the client you should check that a plan is in place before work begins.
How long should the plan be?
There is no set length. For small domestic projects, a few clear pages is usually enough. Larger projects will need more detail.
Is the plan the same as a risk assessment?
No. A risk assessment looks at a particular hazard and the controls for it. The plan is a wider document that pulls the main risks, arrangements and responsibilities together for the whole project.
What happens if there is no plan?
Starting the construction phase without a plan is a breach of the regulations. The HSE can take enforcement action, and a lack of planning can also lead to accidents, delays and extra costs.
Speak to Peters Cost Consultants
A clear, well-costed plan makes every stage of a building project run more smoothly. If you would like help with estimating, cost planning or understanding the costs that sit behind your project’s safety and site arrangements, we would be happy to talk. Get in touch with our team to discuss your project, or visit our home page to see how we help clients across Hampshire and beyond.
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