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Construction Phase Plan: Free Template and Example
Under CDM 2015 every construction project needs a construction phase plan before the site is set up, including domestic jobs. The principal contractor draws it up, or the contractor where there is only one (regulations 12 and 15). It sets out the health and safety arrangements and site rules for the work, and HSE says it should be proportionate: for a small job, a simple plan made before work starts is usually enough.
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Worked example: a small domestic extension
A single-storey rear extension with three trades over six weeks, never more than five people on site. This is the complete plan the builder produces for it. Load it into the builder above to edit it as a starting point.
Construction phase plan: Single-storey rear extension, 14 Example Road
Prepared under regulation 12 (or regulation 15 for a single contractor) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
1. Project details
| Site address | 14 Example Road, Anytown AB1 2CD |
|---|---|
| Description of the work | Single-storey rear kitchen extension, 4 m x 5 m: strip foundations, blockwork walls, timber flat roof, knock-through to the existing kitchen with a steel beam. |
| Start date | 2026-10-05 |
| Planned finish | 2026-11-13 |
| Trades or contractors on site | Builder (groundworks, brickwork, roof); electrician; plumber. Three trades, never more than 5 people on site at once. |
| Plan prepared by | A. Builder, owner of Example Builders Ltd |
| Plan date | 2026-09-28 |
2. Client, designer and contractor contacts
| Client | Mr and Mrs Homeowner (domestic client): client duties sit with the contractor |
|---|---|
| Designer or principal designer | Example Architectural Services, 01234 567890 |
| Principal contractor or contractor | Example Builders Ltd (sole contractor managing the site), 01234 567891 |
| Site manager or supervisor | A. Builder, 07700 900000 |
3. Site rules
Site hours 8:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday.
Work area fenced off from the garden with Heras fencing; gate locked when nobody is on site.
Hard hats, boots and hi-vis in the work area.
No work in occupied rooms without telling the household first.
Keep access routes and the side passage clear; materials stored on the driveway only.
4. Key hazards and how they are controlled
| Hazard | Controls |
|---|---|
| Working at height | Scaffold erected, inspected and tagged by a competent scaffolder before use and every 7 days. No working from ladders except short-duration access. Edge protection on the flat roof. |
| Excavations | Foundation trenches 1 m deep: services located with a cable detector and plans before digging. Trench sides supported where soil is loose; barriers around open trenches; inspected at the start of every shift. |
| Lifting operations | Steel beam lifted by a lifting plan: two-person lift with props and acrow supports; beam delivered by HIAB with the operator in control of the lift. Nobody under a suspended load. |
| Hazardous substances (including dust and asbestos) | Asbestos survey of the kitchen wall before the knock-through. Cutting blocks and concrete with water suppression or on-tool extraction; FFP3 masks worn. Cement handled with gloves. |
| Structural alterations to the existing house | Temporary works (props) designed by the engineer; knock-through only after props are in and checked. |
5. Welfare
Toilet and hand-washing in the house by agreement with the client; drinking water and a place to eat and shelter in the site cabin on the driveway. Drying area for wet clothing in the cabin.
6. Emergency procedures and first aid
First-aid kit in the cabin; the site manager is the appointed person. Nearest A&E: Anytown General Hospital, 3 miles. Fire extinguisher by the cabin door. In an emergency dial 999 and give the site address.
7. Induction and communication
Every person gets a site induction on day one covering these rules, hazards, welfare and emergency arrangements, and signs the induction record. Short talk each Monday on the week ahead. Changes are agreed with the household the day before.
8. Monitoring and review
Site manager walks the site daily and records checks in the site diary. Scaffold inspected weekly and after bad weather. This plan is reviewed when the work or the team changes, and at the start of each new phase.
What goes in a construction phase plan
Regulation 12 says the plan must set out the health and safety arrangements and site rules for the construction phase, taking account of any industrial activities on the site, and include specific measures for any of the work involving particular risks listed in Schedule 3 of the regulations, such as work that puts workers at risk of burial under earthfalls or of falling from a height, work near high voltage power lines, or the assembly or dismantling of heavy prefabricated components. The eight sections of the builder give those arrangements a place to live; add whatever else your site needs.
A plan is not a one-off document. Regulation 12 also requires it to be reviewed, updated and revised as the work goes on, so a plan written in September that still describes September's site in November has stopped doing its job.
Frequently asked questions
Is a construction phase plan a legal requirement?
Yes. Under CDM 2015 a construction phase plan must be drawn up before the construction site is set up. HSE states that CDM applies to all construction work, including domestic projects.
Who prepares the construction phase plan?
The principal contractor, under regulation 12. Where there is only one contractor on the project, that contractor draws it up, under regulation 15.
How detailed must a construction phase plan be?
Proportionate to the size and scale of the job. HSE says that for small jobs a simple plan made before work starts is usually enough to show you have thought about health and safety.
Does the plan have to be updated?
Yes. Regulation 12 requires it to be appropriately reviewed, updated and revised from time to time so that it stays effective as the work changes.
Not sure whether the project also has to be notified to HSE? Use the notifiable project checker.