Who is responsible for preparing the construction phase plan?

The principal contractor is responsible for drawing up the construction phase plan, or ensuring it is drawn up, before the construction phase begins. On projects with only one contractor, that contractor takes on the principal contractor role and must prepare the plan. The client has a duty to ensure a construction phase plan is in place before the construction phase starts. The principal designer may provide pre-construction information and design risk information that feeds into the plan, but the principal contractor owns the document.

When must the construction phase plan be completed?

The plan must be completed before the construction phase begins. Work must not start until the principal contractor has prepared an adequate plan. The plan does not need to be a finished, unchanging document at this point; it should be proportionate to the current project stage and must be updated as the project progresses. However, it must address the significant risks known at the time and set out the arrangements for managing health and safety from day one of the construction phase.

What happens if there is no construction phase plan?

Failure to have an adequate construction phase plan is a breach of CDM 2015 and can result in enforcement action by the HSE. This may include improvement notices requiring the plan to be prepared, prohibition notices stopping work until the plan is in place, or prosecution for serious or repeated failures. During HSE inspections, the construction phase plan is commonly one of the first documents requested. An absent or inadequate plan signals poor health and safety management and often leads to further scrutiny of the project.

Can I use a digital CDM construction phase plan instead of paper?

Yes. CDM 2015 does not prescribe the format of the construction phase plan. It can be a paper document, a digital PDF, a shared online document or a record within a digital management system. The key requirement is that it is accessible to those who need it and is kept up to date. MapTrack supports digital forms and document management that can be used to maintain a live construction phase plan linked to the project, with version control and audit trails. Book a demo to see how it works.

Free cdm construction phase plan template

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Free CDM 2015 construction phase plan template (PDF-ready). Covers principal contractor duties, risk management and welfare per CDM Regulations.

Last updated: 2026-05-03

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 3 May 2026

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What is a cdm construction phase plan template?

A CDM construction phase plan is a document required under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) for every construction project in Great Britain. The plan is prepared by the principal contractor before the construction phase begins and sets out the arrangements for managing health and safety during the construction work. It must describe the project, its management structure, the arrangements for controlling significant risks, site rules, welfare facilities, and the means by which the plan will be reviewed and updated as the project progresses. The construction phase plan is the principal contractor primary tool for communicating how the project will be managed safely.

CDM 2015 replaced the earlier CDM 2007 Regulations and introduced a clearer structure of duty holder roles: client, principal designer, principal contractor, designers and contractors. Regulation 12 requires the principal contractor to draw up the construction phase plan before the construction phase begins, or to ensure it is drawn up. The plan must be appropriate to the risks involved in the construction work and must be kept up to date throughout the project. For projects with only one contractor, that contractor takes on the principal contractor duties. The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) provides guidance through the CDM 2015 Approved Code of Practice (L153) on what the construction phase plan should contain. Failure to have an adequate construction phase plan is a common enforcement finding and can result in improvement notices, prohibition notices or prosecution.

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Benefits of using this cdm construction phase plan template

Regulatory compliance: satisfy the principal contractor duty under CDM 2015 Regulation 12 to prepare a construction phase plan before the construction phase begins.
Structured risk management: document the arrangements for identifying, assessing and controlling significant health and safety risks throughout the construction project.
Clear communication: provide all contractors, workers and visitors with a single reference document setting out site rules, emergency procedures and welfare arrangements.
Duty holder coordination: define the project management structure, roles and responsibilities for the client, principal designer, principal contractor and other contractors.
Welfare provision: document the welfare facilities provided on site, including toilets, washing facilities, changing rooms, rest areas and drinking water, as required by Schedule 2 of CDM 2015.
Audit and enforcement readiness: a well-prepared and current construction phase plan demonstrates competence and diligence during HSE inspections and client audits.

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What to include in a cdm construction phase plan template

This cdm construction phase plan template covers 10 key areas:

Project description: project name, site address, client name, principal designer, principal contractor, project start and anticipated completion dates, brief description of the construction work.
Management structure: organisation chart or list showing the duty holders and their roles, including site manager, site supervisor, health and safety adviser, first aiders, fire wardens.
Arrangements for managing significant risks: how the principal contractor will identify, assess and control significant risks, including reference to risk assessments, method statements and SWMS.
Specific risk arrangements: documented controls for each significant risk, including working at height, excavations, confined spaces, asbestos, demolition, temporary works, lifting operations, hot works, electrical safety, traffic management and noise.
Site rules: mandatory PPE, site access and egress, working hours, smoking policy, drug and alcohol policy, housekeeping standards, visitor management, prohibited activities.
Emergency procedures: fire and evacuation plan, first aid arrangements, emergency contacts, nearest A&E hospital, procedures for reporting accidents and dangerous occurrences under RIDDOR.
Welfare facilities: description and location of toilets, washing facilities, changing rooms, rest and eating areas, drinking water provision, as required by CDM 2015 Schedule 2.
Communication and consultation: how health and safety information will be communicated to workers and contractors, including inductions, toolbox talks, site notice boards and consultation arrangements.
Monitoring and review: how the plan will be monitored, reviewed and updated as the project progresses, including frequency of reviews, triggers for update and responsibilities.
Pre-construction information: summary of key information provided by the client and principal designer, including existing health and safety hazards, asbestos surveys, structural condition and ground conditions.

How to use this cdm construction phase plan template

Gather pre-construction information from the client and principal designer, including existing hazards, asbestos surveys, structural reports and ground condition data.: Under CDM 2015, the client must provide pre-construction information to the principal designer and principal contractor as soon as practicable. Review this information to identify existing risks that will affect the construction phase, such as asbestos-containing materials, contaminated ground, structural instability, underground services and adjacent hazards.
Define the project description, management structure, duty holder roles and lines of communication.: Document the project name, site address, client, principal designer and principal contractor. Prepare an organisation chart showing the site manager, supervisors, health and safety adviser, first aiders and fire wardens. Clearly state who is responsible for each area of health and safety management and how information will flow between duty holders.
Identify the significant risks for the project and document the arrangements for managing each one.: Review the project scope, method statements and risk assessments to identify the significant health and safety risks. For each risk (e.g. working at height, excavations, lifting, asbestos, temporary works), document the specific controls, responsible person and monitoring arrangements. Reference the relevant risk assessments and method statements rather than duplicating them in the plan.
Set out the site rules, welfare facilities, emergency procedures and communication arrangements.: Document the mandatory site rules covering PPE, access, working hours and prohibited activities. Describe the welfare facilities provided and their locations, ensuring compliance with CDM 2015 Schedule 2. Detail the fire and evacuation plan, first aid arrangements, emergency contacts and RIDDOR reporting procedures. Describe how inductions, toolbox talks and safety information will be delivered.
Issue the plan to all contractors and relevant parties before the construction phase begins, and establish a process for monitoring and review.: The construction phase plan must be in place before construction work starts. Issue the plan or relevant extracts to all contractors working on the project. Establish a review schedule, typically monthly or when significant changes occur, and assign responsibility for updating the plan. Record all reviews and updates with dates and the name of the person making the change.

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How often should you complete this plan?

The construction phase plan must be prepared before the construction phase begins and must be kept up to date throughout the project. It should be reviewed at regular intervals, typically monthly, and updated whenever there is a significant change to the project scope, methodology, management structure, contractors on site or risk profile. Specific triggers for review include the introduction of new high-risk activities (such as demolition, piling or crane operations), changes to the site layout, new or amended pre-construction information from the client or principal designer, incidents or near misses that reveal gaps in the plan, and changes to emergency procedures or welfare facilities. At project completion, the plan should be reviewed one final time and filed as part of the health and safety file.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CDM construction phase plan?: A CDM construction phase plan is a document required under Regulation 12 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 for every construction project in Great Britain. It is prepared by the principal contractor before construction begins and sets out the arrangements for managing health and safety during the construction phase. The plan covers the project description, management structure, arrangements for controlling significant risks, site rules, welfare facilities, emergency procedures and review arrangements. It is the principal contractor primary tool for communicating how health and safety will be managed.
Who is responsible for preparing the construction phase plan?: The principal contractor is responsible for drawing up the construction phase plan, or ensuring it is drawn up, before the construction phase begins. On projects with only one contractor, that contractor takes on the principal contractor role and must prepare the plan. The client has a duty to ensure a construction phase plan is in place before the construction phase starts. The principal designer may provide pre-construction information and design risk information that feeds into the plan, but the principal contractor owns the document.
When must the construction phase plan be completed?: The plan must be completed before the construction phase begins. Work must not start until the principal contractor has prepared an adequate plan. The plan does not need to be a finished, unchanging document at this point; it should be proportionate to the current project stage and must be updated as the project progresses. However, it must address the significant risks known at the time and set out the arrangements for managing health and safety from day one of the construction phase.
What happens if there is no construction phase plan?: Failure to have an adequate construction phase plan is a breach of CDM 2015 and can result in enforcement action by the HSE. This may include improvement notices requiring the plan to be prepared, prohibition notices stopping work until the plan is in place, or prosecution for serious or repeated failures. During HSE inspections, the construction phase plan is commonly one of the first documents requested. An absent or inadequate plan signals poor health and safety management and often leads to further scrutiny of the project.
Can I use a digital CDM construction phase plan instead of paper?: Yes. CDM 2015 does not prescribe the format of the construction phase plan. It can be a paper document, a digital PDF, a shared online document or a record within a digital management system. The key requirement is that it is accessible to those who need it and is kept up to date. MapTrack supports digital forms and document management that can be used to maintain a live construction phase plan linked to the project, with version control and audit trails. Book a demo to see how it works.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

CDM 2015 (Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015)
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

CDM Construction Phase Plan Template preview

CDM Construction Phase Plan Template template preview showing fields and layout

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