Project Management in UK construction refers to the planning, coordination, and control of a project from inception to completion. It encompasses managing resources, timelines, budgets, and stakeholder expectations to deliver construction projects on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
Key Responsibilities
A construction project manager in the UK typically oversees:
- Planning and scheduling – Creating detailed project plans, setting milestones, and managing the critical path
- Budget management – Controlling costs, managing variations, and ensuring value for money
- Risk management – Identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks
- Stakeholder coordination – Liaising with clients, contractors, consultants, and regulatory bodies
- Quality control – Ensuring works meet specifications and British Standards
- Health and safety compliance – Adhering to CDM Regulations 2015 and HSE requirements
UK Regulatory Framework
Construction project management in the UK operates within several key frameworks:
- CDM Regulations 2015 – Construction (Design and Management) Regulations requiring duty holders to manage health, safety, and welfare
- Building Regulations 2010 – Standards for building design and construction
- JCT Contracts – Widely used standard forms of contract published by the Joint Contracts Tribunal
- NEC Contracts – The New Engineering Contract suite, popular for public sector projects
Professional Bodies
Key professional bodies for construction project managers in the UK include:
- RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)
- CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building)
- APM (Association for Project Management)
- ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers)
Common Methodologies
UK construction projects commonly use:
- PRINCE2 – Projects IN Controlled Environments, widely adopted in UK public sector
- Agile – Increasingly used for fast-track and design-build projects
- Lean Construction – Focus on waste reduction and value maximisation
- BIM Level 2 – Building Information Modelling, mandated for UK government projects since 2016
Related Terms
See also: Construction Management, Critical Path Method, Work Breakdown Structure, Project Schedule, Project Budget
