Construction Phase Plan Template — Free CDM 2015 Plan Generator

Fill in or download a blank construction phase plan template aligned with CDM 2015 Regulation 12 and HSE L153 guidance. Five sections covering project, management, site-specific risks, H&S file, and review.

Fill in as much or as little as you need. You can download the PDF with blank fields for manual completion or fill it in here first for a pre-populated plan. Aligned with CDM 2015 Regulation 12 and HSE guidance L153.

1. Project Description

Identify the project — what is being built, where, when, and by whom. This sets context for the rest of the plan.

Project name

Site address

Client name

Principal designer

Principal contractor

Planned start date

Planned completion date

Description of the works

Is the project notifiable to HSE? (more than 30 days and more than 20 workers at once, or more than 500 person-days)

2. Management of the Work

How will health and safety be managed across the construction phase? Site rules, communication, coordination, welfare, induction — the operational mechanisms that turn the plan into actual behaviour on site.

Site rules — key rules every worker must follow

Who has authority to stop work?

Communication and coordination arrangements

Site induction process

Incident reporting and investigation arrangements

Welfare arrangements (toilets, washing, drinking water, rest, changing, food)

3. Arrangements for Controlling Significant Site Risks

For each significant hazard, the control measures, the named responsible person, and the supporting RAMS / permits. This is where the plan goes site-specific — generic text fails this section.

Work at height (above 2 metres) — controls and supporting RAMS

Risk of struck-by from falling objects — controls

Mobile plant and vehicle movements — segregation and controls

Work near overhead power lines or underground services

Work in confined spaces — permit-to-work arrangements

Asbestos — survey status, controls if present

Hot works (welding, cutting, grinding) — permit and controls

Electrical work / isolation procedures

Lifting operations — lift plans, LOLER compliance

Demolition work (if any) — sequence and controls

Protection of public / neighbours / adjacent occupants

Emergency arrangements (fire, first aid, rescue, evacuation)

Other significant project-specific risks

4. Health and Safety File

For multi-contractor projects, the principal designer prepares the H&S file at project end. This section sets out what information will be collected during construction to feed into it.

Who is responsible for compiling the H&S file?

Information to be collected during construction

5. Plan Review and Updates

The construction phase plan is a living document. Set out how it will be reviewed and updated as the project progresses.

Review frequency

Trigger events that require an update

Current version / revision

Plan prepared by (name and role)

A construction phase plan is required on every UK construction project under Regulation 12 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. It must be prepared by the principal contractor (or on single-contractor projects, by the contractor) before construction work begins. This template gives you the structure aligned with CDM 2015 and HSE guidance L153 — fill in the fields for your project and produce a defensible plan as a downloadable PDF.

What this template does

Five sections covering everything Regulation 12 and Schedule 3 of CDM 2015 require: project description, management of the work, arrangements for controlling significant site risks, the health and safety file, and plan review/updates. Each section has guidance text explaining what HSE expects. Fill in as much as you need — the PDF can be generated with blank lines for manual completion or pre-populated with your responses.

Why this needs to be site-specific

HSE has been clear in enforcement guidance that a generic plan is not a plan. The construction phase plan must address the actual hazards on the actual job. Boilerplate text edited only to insert the project name fails the test. Use this template as a starting structure, then customise every section for your specific site — the risks, the trades, the location, the workforce.

When to update the plan

The construction phase plan is a living document. Update it when a new contractor joins the project, when the design changes, after an incident or near-miss that reveals a control gap, when the site layout changes, or when any regulatory change affects the project. Keep a change log at the front of the plan so the version history is visible to anyone reviewing it.

This tool is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements vary by project scope and applicable regulations.

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