Principal Designer – Building Regulations / Building Safety Act in England

Our client is an established construction and building health and safety consultancy, providing practical, professional and approachable support to clients across commercial, retail and residential construction projects. Established in 2003, the business works with clients, consultants, designers, contractors and wider project teams to help deliver safer, better‑managed and more compliant construction projects. The company is APS registered, SafeContractor approved and OSHCR registered, with a highly qualified team providing CDM, Principal Designer, Client Adviser and wider health and safety consultancy services.

The Role

This is a full‑time hybrid role based from Bedford, with flexibility to work some days from home. The successful candidate will support clients and design teams during the design phase of construction projects, helping to plan, manage and monitor design work so that compliance with the Building Regulations is considered, evidenced and coordinated from the earliest stages of a project. You will work closely with clients, architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, Building Control Bodies and other dutyholders to support a clear route to compliance. The role will involve reviewing design information, identifying potential compliance risks, supporting Gateway and Building Control submissions, and helping project teams understand their duties under the Building Safety Act and Building Regulations. This is a technical coordination and advisory role suited to someone who understands construction design, enjoys working with multidisciplinary teams and can provide clear, practical guidance in a developing area of regulation.

Key Responsibilities

• Support Principal Designer duties under the Building Regulations and Building Safety Act.
• Plan, manage and monitor design work to support compliance with relevant Building Regulations requirements.
• Attend design team meetings, workshops, project reviews and client meetings.
• Review design information and identify gaps, risks or areas requiring further coordination.
• Support RIBA stage reviews, Gateway submissions and Building Control application processes.
• Prepare Building Safety Act / Building Regulations progress reports at key project stages.
• Liaise with clients, architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, Building Control Bodies and other dutyholders.
• Help coordinate the route to compliance with the wider project team.
• Support design risk management, design change control and compliance tracking during the design phase.
• Advise clients on their duties under the Building Safety Act and the Building Regulations dutyholder regime.
• Help ensure effective cooperation, coordination and communication between project dutyholders.
• Support mandatory occurrence reporting arrangements where applicable.
• Assist with project documentation, design records, compliance evidence and Golden Thread information where required.
• Support the preparation and coordination of Fire and Emergency File information during the design phase.
• Review project team competence information and help support good project governance.
• Provide practical, proportionate advice to clients and design teams across both higher‑risk and non‑higher‑risk building projects.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a technically minded construction professional who enjoys design review, compliance, coordination and working closely with multidisciplinary project teams. You may come from a background in:

• Architecture
• Architectural Technology
• Building Control
• Construction Management
• Design Management
• CDM / Health and Safety Consultancy
• Fire Safety Engineering
• Building Surveying
• Or another relevant construction discipline

The role would suit someone who understands how buildings are designed and delivered, and who is interested in developing specialist expertise in the Building Regulations Principal Designer role.

Skills and Experience Required

• Around 4+ years’ relevant experience within construction, design, building control, CDM, building safety or health and safety consultancy.
• Good understanding of the Building Safety Act, Building Regulations and the current dutyholder regime.
• Experience or strong awareness of Principal Designer duties under the Building Regulations.
• Understanding of design coordination, design risk management and construction‑phase planning.
• Ability to review design information and identify potential compliance gaps or coordination issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence working with clients, consultants, contractors, Building Control Bodies and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Organised, process‑led and comfortable managing work across multiple projects.
• Ability to produce clear reports, meeting notes and compliance‑focused project documentation.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively in a hybrid working environment.
• Professional membership such as APS, IOSH, CIOB, RIBA, CIAT, CABE, RICS or similar would be beneficial.
• A relevant degree, technical qualification or equivalent industry experience would be preferred.

What’s on Offer

• Full‑time permanent opportunity.
• Hybrid working based from Bedford.
• Opportunity to join an established and respected consultancy.
• Work across varied commercial, retail and residential construction projects.
• Develop specialist expertise in one of the most important and fastest‑developing areas of the UK construction industry.
• Exposure to Building Safety Act, Building Regulations, Gateway and dutyholder compliance work.
• Supportive, knowledgeable and experienced team environment.
• Opportunity to help shape and develop a growing specialist service area.
• Competitive employment package including generous annual leave, sick pay provision, expenses support and access to company schemes.

Why Apply?

Building safety and regulatory compliance are now central to how construction projects are designed, managed and delivered. Clients and project teams need clear, practical advice from professionals who understand both the technical and coordination challenges involved. This role offers the opportunity to build specialist expertise as a Principal Designer under the Building Regulations, work on meaningful projects and play an important part in helping clients and design teams deliver safer, better‑coordinated and more compliant buildings. If you are technically minded, confident working with project teams and interested in developing your career within Building Safety Act and Building Regulations Principal Designer services, we would welcome your application.