How to Create a Construction Phase Plan: Step-by-Step Guide
A Construction Phase Plan is a safety document that sets out how health and safety risks will be managed on a building site. Under the Construction Design and Management Regulations, every UK construction project must have one in place before any work begins.
Key Points
- A construction phase plan is a legal requirement under CDM 2015 for all UK construction projects, regardless of size, and must be in place before any site work begins.
- The Principal Contractor is responsible for producing the plan on multi-contractor projects, whilst a sole contractor takes responsibility on single-contractor projects.
- The plan must include project details, management arrangements, and specific control measures for both safety and health risks, proportionate to the project's scale and complexity.
- The construction phase plan is a live document that requires updating throughout the project whenever conditions, risks or contractors change.
What Is a Construction Phase Plan?
The Principal Contractor prepares this plan on projects with more than one contractor; on smaller single-contractor jobs, the contractor takes on that duty. The plan covers site logistics arrangements for vehicle access, parking zones and material storage areas, safety protocols for managing pedestrian and vehicle segregation on site, and control measures for high-risk construction activities like demolition or work near overhead power lines.
Rather than a fixed template, the plan must be proportionate—a brief checklist may suit minor works, while complex builds need far more detail. It remains a live document, updated whenever site conditions or risks change.
When Is a Construction Phase Plan Required?
A Construction Phase Plan (CPP) is required for every construction project in the UK, regardless of size or duration. Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, there are no exemptions. Whether you are building a large commercial development or carrying out minor refurbishment work, you need a plan in place.
Previous rules allowed some smaller projects to skip this requirement, but those thresholds no longer apply. The plan must be finalised before any physical work begins on site. Starting without one means breaking the law, and both principal contractors and clients can face enforcement action.
Who Produces the Construction Phase Plan?
The Principal Contractor produces the construction phase plan on projects where two or more contractors are working. On single-contractor projects, that sole contractor takes on the duty instead. Under CDM 2015, this responsibility applies to every construction project in the UK, no matter how small—even minor domestic work that does not need notifying to the HSE.
The plan must be prepared before any site work begins. Clients are legally required to check that a suitable plan exists and must not authorise a start until one is in place. Although the Principal Contractor may ask others to help draft sections, they remain legally accountable for its adequacy throughout the build.
What Must a Construction Phase Plan Include?
A construction phase plan is a legal document required under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. It must be completed before any work starts on site, even for jobs lasting only a few hours.
Schedule 3 of CDM 2015 sets out the required content. The plan must address site-wide arrangements—such as welfare facilities, access routes and emergency procedures—alongside specific controls for high-risk activities like work at height, excavations near buried services, or tasks close to high-voltage cables.
Responsibility depends on the project structure. On multi-contractor sites, the principal contractor prepares and maintains the plan. For single-contractor projects, that contractor takes charge. Either way, the document must remain live, updated whenever unforeseen hazards appear or designs change.
Project Description
A project description is a written summary that outlines what work will take place, where it will happen, and who is responsible. It forms the foundation of any construction phase plan.
Start by stating the project location, the type of works (such as new build, refurbishment, or demolition), and the planned programme dates. Next, identify the duty holders required under CDM 2015: the client, principal designer, principal contractor, and any contractors. Finally, note site constraints—limited access, neighbouring properties, underground services, or environmental factors like protected wildlife habitats—that could affect how work proceeds safely.
Management Arrangements
Management arrangements are the organisational structures that define who does what to keep a site safe. They set out clear lines of responsibility so every worker knows whom to report issues to and who holds final accountability for health and safety decisions.
A typical structure includes a principal contractor overseeing day-to-day control, with site supervisors managing specific trades. Communication protocols—such as daily briefings and toolbox talks—ensure information flows between teams. Coordination meetings help contractors work safely alongside each other.
Before starting work, every person receives a site induction covering hazards and emergency procedures. Competence checks confirm qualifications and training records. Ongoing consultation gives workers a voice in safety matters. Welfare facilities, including toilets, rest areas and drinking water, must also be arranged and maintained throughout the project.
Arrangements for Controlling Safety Risks
Arrangements for controlling safety risks are systematic measures that identify hazards, assess their severity and put safeguards in place before work begins. The goal is to prevent harm rather than react to incidents after they occur.
The hierarchy of control guides these arrangements. It prioritises eliminating hazards entirely, then substituting safer methods, followed by engineering controls, administrative measures and finally personal protective equipment as a last resort.
High-risk activities—such as working at height, excavations and lifting operations—require site-specific Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS). These documents outline each hazard, the controls selected and who holds responsibility for implementing them.
Ongoing monitoring keeps arrangements effective. Regular site inspections, toolbox talks and formal reviews ensure controls remain appropriate as conditions change throughout a project.
Arrangements for Controlling Health Risks
Arrangements for controlling health risks are the planned measures an employer puts in place to prevent work-related illness. On timber construction sites, this means identifying hazards early—ideally at tender stage—so budgets cover proper controls and monitoring equipment.
Hardwood dust is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, so relying on masks alone is not enough; local exhaust ventilation (LEV) must be installed at cutting stations. The Construction Phase Plan should address CDM 2015 Schedule 3 requirements, including health surveillance for dust exposure and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) from power tools.
Pre-construction information from the Principal Designer highlights residual risks, while site teams manage manual handling plans for prefabricated frames and trusses.
How to Create a Construction Phase Plan
A construction phase plan is a site-specific safety document required under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. You must complete it before any work begins on site, regardless of whether the project involves one contractor or several.
Start by collecting pre-construction information from the client, including surveys, existing hazard data and design-stage risk assessments. The principal contractor should liaise with the principal designer to understand risks identified during the design process and translate these into practical site controls.
Draft content proportionate to the project's complexity. Address Schedule 3 high-risk activities—such as work near high-voltage cables, excavations that could cause burial, or tasks with fall hazards—with specific control measures. Include site rules, welfare arrangements and emergency procedures covering fire, first aid and evacuation.
The plan must remain a live document. Update it as conditions change and communicate revisions through inductions and regular briefings so every subcontractor understands current requirements. A static file left untouched offers no protection.
When Should a Construction Phase Plan Be Updated?
A construction phase plan is a living document that must stay current throughout the project. Under CDM 2015, the principal contractor holds responsibility for updating the plan whenever new information affects site safety.
Updates are required when conditions or risks change—for example, design alterations, new subcontractors joining the site, or unforeseen hazards emerging during groundworks. If an accident or near-miss occurs, a review is mandatory to prevent recurrence. The plan must also adapt when high-risk activities such as heavy plant operations or work near the public are introduced.
Every change should be communicated promptly to all workers through updated method statements and site briefings.
The Health and Safety File
The Health and Safety File is a legal document required under CDM 2015 for projects involving more than one contractor. It sits apart from the Construction Phase Plan and serves a different purpose: recording information needed for safe future maintenance, alterations and eventual demolition.
The Principal Designer oversees the file's preparation, while the Principal Contractor gathers site-level data. Contents typically include as-built drawings, operation and maintenance manuals, structural load limits, cabling routes and fire-stopping details.
Since the Building Safety Act 2022, the file forms part of the 'Golden Thread'—a digital record of fire and structural safety information for higher-risk buildings. An incomplete file can delay handover or complicate future sales.
CDM Regulations 2015: Quick Summary
The CDM Regulations 2015 are the primary UK legislation governing health and safety on construction projects. They apply to all construction work, including domestic renovations and maintenance, not just commercial sites.
The regulations define five duty holders: Client, Principal Designer, Principal Contractor, Designers and Contractors. On projects involving more than one contractor, the Client must appoint a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor. If they fail to do so, those legal duties automatically fall on the Client themselves.
For domestic clients, responsibilities typically transfer to the contractor or Principal Contractor. Notification to the HSE is only required for larger projects exceeding specific worker thresholds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a construction phase plan a legal requirement in the UK?
Yes, under CDM 2015 a construction phase plan is a legal requirement for every construction project in the UK without exception. Previous thresholds based on project size or notification status no longer apply, meaning even small-scale works require a CPP to be in place before construction begins.
What is the difference between a construction phase plan and a health and safety file?
A construction phase plan is a live document that governs site safety during the construction works, whereas the health and safety file is compiled for handover to the client and contains information needed for future maintenance and alterations. The CPP focuses on managing risks during the build, whilst the health and safety file serves as a long-term reference after project completion.
Can a construction phase plan be a simple document for small projects?
Yes, the construction phase plan should be proportionate to the scale and complexity of the project. For straightforward domestic or small commercial works, a concise CPP covering the essential health and safety arrangements is acceptable, provided it addresses all relevant risks and legal requirements under CDM 2015.
How does a construction phase plan differ for single contractor versus multiple contractor projects?
For single contractor projects, the contractor assumes responsibility for producing the CPP and managing site safety. On projects with multiple contractors, the principal contractor must prepare and maintain the plan, coordinating health and safety arrangements across all parties and ensuring effective communication between duty-holders.
