New CDM legislation

The new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 will be published in Northern Ireland in the near future, and will consolidate and revise the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 1995/209 and the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 1996/510, by replacing them with a single set of provisions.

They aim to increase the focus on effective planning and management of construction projects, specifically to improve risk management by making sure responsibility is given to those best placed to manage and influence it. They are expected to be similar to their Great Britain equivalent, which came into force on 6 April 2007, and as a result they will:

• place new and increased responsibilities on clients, as opposed to contractors;
• classify projects as either notifiable or non-notifiable, with differing requirements for each;
• replace planning supervisors with a new construction design and management co-ordinator, who will support and advise the client.

New supporting guidance will also be issued, and we will bring you more information on this as and when we receive it.