Building Regulations Principal Designer

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils; Greater London; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40 days annual leave

Flexible working

Generous pension plan

Job summary

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are seeking a Building Regulations Principal Designer to lead Building Regulations compliance across a diverse portfolio, including Higher-Risk Buildings, leisure facilities, and council buildings. The role reports to the Head of Service and focuses on review, guidance, and coordination of BRPD activities.

You will coordinate design teams, ensure BSA and Building Regulations compliance, and provide training on Building Safety Act 2022 and related regulations.

Qualifications

• Degree in a construction related discipline and professional membership of RICS, CIOB, ARB or equivalent.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to adapt to a diverse range of clients.
• Excellent documentation and field observation skill and an in-depth technical knowledge base.
• Expert knowledge of Building Safety Act, Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023, and CDM across various sectors.
• Experience of the Principal Designer role for Building Regulation compliance and Design Management of Designers.
• Commitment to maintaining and improving the quality of services provided.

Responsibilities

• Expert knowledge of Building Safety and Regulatory Compliance including Building Regulations 2023 and HRB duties. Interpret legislation and provide practical guidance to clients and teams.
• Coordinate building regulation compliance through the project lifecycle with multidisciplinary design teams.
• Manage multiple projects and regulatory deadlines; liaise with clients, consultants, contractors and regulators.
• Develop procedures, templates and QA systems; deliver training on building regulations and safety.

Skills

Communication skills

Documentation skills

Site observation

Building regulations knowledge

Project management

Education

Construction related degree

Professional membership: RICS/CIOB/ARB

Job description

Job Title: Building Regulations Principal Designer

Salary Range: £59,058 - £74,568 per annum

Contract type: Permanent - Fulltime (36 Hours)

Location: Wandsworth Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London, SW18 2PU

Number of days required in office - 3 days (inclusive of site visits)

Are you a qualified registered Building Regulations Principal Designer who is able to take the statutory lead on Principal Designer (Building Regulations) appointments?

The Design Service team in Richmond and Wandsworth Council’s supports a wide range of essential consultancy services to help maintain the Councils building infrastructure to make sure facilities are safe, operational, enjoyable and comfortable for tenants, service users and staff to enjoy and/or deliver their services to the community. As the Building Regulations Principal Designer, you will be the recognised expert you will work across a diverse portfolio of projects and giving advice to a wide range of facilities including Higher-Risk Buildings, leisure centres, council buildings, residential homes, crematoriums and day centres. You will be working alongside a wide range of professionals from the Council who deliver essential services where no two days are the same. You will be building professional relationships and be able to adapt to a diverse client base.

About the role

Reporting directly to the Head of Service you will be having the responsibility of reviewing all projects, supporting the team in all aspects of Building Regulations compliance with their design. You will be appointed as the Building Regulations Principal Designer for projects undertaken by the Design Service managing the BRPD function to ensure BSA compliance and coordinate with the duty holders to ensure compliance with relevant Legislation & Regulations. Support clients and the team in navigating regulatory changes and provide guidance and training on the Building Safety Act 2022 and Building Regulations.

Responsibilities

• 1. Expert Knowledge of Building Safety and Regulatory ComplianceExtensive knowledge of the Building Safety Act2022, Building Regulations, and the duty holder requirements for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs). Understanding of the Building Regulations Principal Designer (BRPD) role, Gateway processes, and Building Safety Regulator (BSR) requirements. Ability to interpret legislation and provide clear, practical compliance advice to clients, colleagues and project teams.
• 2. Proven Experience of Coordinating Building Regulations ComplianceExperience managing building regulation compliance throughout the project lifecycle, from design through to completion. Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary design teams (Architectural, Structural, MEP, Fire and specialist consultants) to ensure compliance requirements are embedded and evidenced. Experience maintaining compliance trackers, action logs, decision records and audit trails to support regulatory submissions and inspections.
• 3. Strong Project Management and Stakeholder Engagement SkillsAbility to manage multiple projects, priorities and regulatory deadlines, ensuring Gateway submission requirements are met. Experience liaising with clients, consultants, contractors and regulatory bodies to secure timely and accurate information. Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to facilitate collaborative decision‑making and resolve compliance issues.
• 4. Leadership, Training and Continuous ImprovementExperience developing procedures, templates and quality assurance systems to strengthen compliance management processes. Ability to deliver training and provide guidance to colleagues on building regulations, building safety and emerging legislative requirements. Demonstrates a proactive, organised and solutions‑focused approach, with a commitment to integrity, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Degree in a construction related discipline and professional membership of RICS, CIOB, ARB or equivalent.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to adapt to a diverse range of clients.
• Excellent documentation and field observation skill and an in‑depth technical knowledge base.
• Expert knowledge of Building Safety Act, Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023, and CDM across various sectors.
• Experience of the Principal Designer role for Building Regulation compliance and Design Management of Designers.
• Commitment to maintaining and improving the quality of services provided.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

• Closing Date: Sunday 29th November 2026
• Shortlisting Date: w/c 30th November 2026
• Interview Date: w/c 14th December 2026
• We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received.

Useful Information

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.