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Hey everyone, My Architect has pointed out in his fees: Principle Designer – this service, to monitor Health & Safety and provide a H&S file is required by law. All design consultants and sub-contractors should design the property so that it can be constructed and maintained safely and any unusual risks identified so that appropriate precautions can be taken. I attach a document outlining the clients duties under the regulations. We can undertake this role at an additional fee will be required at 0.25% of the contract sum or a maximum fee of £6,000 + VAT (ME) I guess this is something I can manage myself and ensure all the required H&S on site is in place as its my residential home I am demolishing and rebuilding? (ARCHITECT) You can, we will need to produce a H&S document up to design stage and you can take over from there as Principle Designer and Principle Contractor and Client - you will be wearing a lot of hats. I will send you the CDM guides from www.hse.gov.uk/construction On my self build, I am the client and I will personally manage without a principal contractor. I will bring in all contractors such as groundworks, bricklayers, and general construction myself, rather than have one main contractor as their fee will blow my budget. So the principal designer is supposed to manage the construction phases of a project, and generally liaises with the client. Well, I want to be both of these and dont see any reason to pay someone else to manage that relationship on my behalf. From a H&S perspective, has anyone managed this as apparently I have to have a H&S site manual up to date should any authority turn or request one? My Arc will do it up to design stage then its passed over to me. Is there much else to add in there? I have read the manuals but it's all common sense stuff to be honest However, do you think its best to appoint a Principal designer and is it worth paying out the above for this type of role to save me the time and hassle? Just seems expensive, but this is a 5 bed detached house 450-500sqm. Thanks Chris