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Hi Christopher,
Technically there is no reason why you could not act as both the client and the principal contractor. You need to make sure you meet the definition of a contractor; and can demonstrate that you have the necessary competencies to undertake the role.
The duties of the principal contractor are primarily outlined in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) 2015 and the Building Safety Act 2022. Under CDM, a contractor is defined as anyone who directly employs or engages construction workers, or who, as part of their business, manages or controls construction work.
As the principal contractor, you will be responsible for planning, managing, and overseeing the entire construction phase and ensuring all health and safety requirements are met. This includes preparing a build plan and make sure that the site is a safe place to work and has appropriate welfare facilities. Additionally, under the Building Safety Act, you’ll need to guarantee that all work complies with the necessary regulations and reject any non-compliant work.
Importantly, under both the CDM and the Building Safety Act, principal contractors are required to demonstrate that they have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours to carry out the role. There is no single defined route to demonstrating competency, however some examples include completing formal training, or demonstrating suitable experience portfolio of completed projects.
Whilst an individual client can technically take on the role of principal contractor, be cautious. Very few people outside the professional field possess the expertise required to safely and effectively manage a construction site. Failing to comply with regulations or taking on work outside your capabilities, can have serious consequences not only in terms of safety on the site, but can also result in costly delays, unlimited fines, or even imprisonment.
Hope this helps!
Mark Stevenson, Build It’s project management expert