If you've been appointed as a contractor or principal contractor on a UK construction project, you need a Construction Phase Plan (CPP) before work starts on site. No exceptions. This guide explains exactly what it must contain, who writes it, and how to put one together quickly — including a free template.
What is a Construction Phase Plan?
A Construction Phase Plan is a health and safety document required under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015). It sets out how health and safety will be managed throughout the construction phase of a project — from the first day on site to practical completion.
Despite what many contractors assume, the CPP is not just a box-ticking exercise for large projects. CDM 2015 requires a Construction Phase Plan on every construction project, regardless of size, duration, or whether the project is notifiable to the HSE.
That means a one-man groundworks contractor doing a house extension needs one, just as much as a principal contractor running a multi-million-pound commercial development.
Who writes the Construction Phase Plan?
This depends on the project structure:
Single contractor projects — If you are the only contractor on the project, the responsibility to prepare the CPP falls on you. Under Regulation 15(5) of CDM 2015, the contractor must draw up a CPP, or arrange for one to be drawn up, as soon as practicable before setting up the construction site.
Notifiable projects with a principal contractor — Where a principal contractor has been appointed (which is required on notifiable projects involving more than one contractor), it is the principal contractor's duty to prepare and maintain the CPP.
Domestic clients — Even on domestic projects, CDM 2015 still applies in full to the contractor and designer. The domestic client is exempt from most CDM duties, but the contractor still must produce a CPP.
What must a Construction Phase Plan include?
CDM 2015 does not prescribe a specific format, but Schedule 3 of the regulations sets out the minimum content. Your CPP must cover:
Project description and team
- A clear description of the project — what work is being carried out and where
- The names and contact details of the client, principal designer, principal contractor, and any other key duty holders
- The site address and any relevant access and egress points
- The anticipated start and completion dates for the construction phase
Site management arrangements
- How health and safety will be managed on site — who is responsible for what
- Arrangements for site inductions — who delivers them, what they cover, and how attendance is recorded
- First aid arrangements — number of trained first aiders, location of first aid equipment, and nearest hospital with A&E
- How incidents, accidents, and near misses will be reported and investigated
- Welfare arrangements — toilets, washing facilities, rest area, and drinking water
Risk management
- The significant risks specific to this project and how they will be controlled — this is not a copy-and-paste list of generic hazards, it must reflect the actual site conditions and work being carried out
- How the work will be sequenced to minimise risk, particularly where multiple trades are working simultaneously
- How contractors will coordinate their activities safely
Health and safety rules
- The site rules that all contractors, subcontractors, and visitors must follow
- PPE requirements — what must be worn and where
- Permit to work arrangements for high-risk activities such as hot work, confined space entry, or isolation of supply
- Arrangements for managing contractors and ensuring they have suitable RAMS in place before starting work
Emergency procedures
- What to do in the event of a fire — assembly point, evacuation procedure, who calls 999
- What to do in the event of a serious accident or medical emergency
- What to do in the event of a structural collapse or dangerous occurrence
Notifiable project information (where applicable)
If the project is notifiable (likely to involve more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers simultaneously, or exceed 500 person-days of work), the CPP must also reference the F10 notification submitted to the HSE and include the HSE project number.
How detailed does it need to be?
The HSE's own guidance is clear on this: the Construction Phase Plan should be proportionate to the scale and complexity of the project. A small domestic extension needs a simpler plan than a major commercial fit-out.
What matters is that it is specific to the project. A generic template that has simply had the company name changed is not an adequate CPP. The risks, controls, team details, and arrangements must reflect the actual work being planned.
That said, a well-structured template is the right starting point — it ensures you cover everything required and saves significant time compared to starting from a blank page. The key is spending 20–30 minutes adapting it to your specific project before it goes on site.
Common mistakes to avoid
Starting on site before the CPP is in place. The regulations require the plan to exist before the construction phase begins — not during it. If a principal contractor or HSE inspector asks for it and you don't have one, you are in breach of CDM 2015.
Using a generic plan that hasn't been adapted. Inspectors and principal contractors can spot a copy-and-paste CPP immediately. If the hazards listed don't match the work being done, it raises serious questions about the competence of the person responsible.
Not updating the plan as the project progresses. The CPP is a live document. It should be reviewed and updated whenever the scope of work changes, a new contractor comes on site, or a significant incident occurs.
Leaving out the emergency procedures. This section is consistently missing or inadequate in CPPs reviewed on site. It must include the location of the assembly point, who calls the emergency services, and what happens if someone is injured or trapped.
Not making the plan available to workers. The CPP must be kept on site and made available to anyone working on the project who needs to see it. It is not a document that sits in the site manager's van — it should be accessible and referred to.
Free Construction Phase Plan template
SafetyPod offers a free Construction Phase Plan template — written by a NEBOSH-qualified UK health and safety professional and reviewed against the requirements of CDM 2015.
The template includes all the sections required under Schedule 3 of CDM 2015:
- Project description and duty holder contact details
- Site management structure and responsibilities
- Site rules and PPE requirements
- Induction and training arrangements
- First aid and welfare provisions
- Emergency procedures and assembly point
- Risk management section with space for project-specific hazards
- Permit to work arrangements
- Contractor management procedures
It is provided in fully editable Word format so you can adapt it to your project in minutes.
Get the free Construction Phase Plan template →
Need a full CDM document pack?
If you need more than just the CPP — including risk assessments, method statements, COSHH assessments, and site monitoring forms — SafetyPod has a complete library of 113 HSE-compliant construction H&S templates, all instantly downloadable and fully editable.
The RAMS & Permits bundle includes everything most subcontractors need for a typical project, from £12.99.
Browse the SafetyPod template library →
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Construction Phase Plan for a small project?
Yes. CDM 2015 requires a CPP on every construction project, regardless of size. Even a single contractor doing a one-week job needs a CPP before work starts on site.
Does the Construction Phase Plan replace the risk assessment?
No. The CPP references and summarises the significant risks for the project, but individual risk assessments (and method statements for high-risk tasks) are separate documents that must also be in place. The CPP and RAMS work together — they are not interchangeable.
Who keeps the Construction Phase Plan after the project finishes?
On notifiable projects, the principal contractor should pass relevant health and safety information to the principal designer, who includes it in the Health and Safety File — a record kept for the life of the structure. On non-notifiable projects, the contractor should retain the CPP for their own records.
Can the Construction Phase Plan be digital?
Yes. There is no requirement for a paper copy under CDM 2015, but the plan must be accessible to all workers on site. If you keep it digitally, ensure everyone on site can access it when needed.
All SafetyPod templates are written by a NEBOSH-qualified UK health and safety professional and reviewed against current HSE guidance and CDM 2015.