Principal contract
The principle contract means is main contract between the parties named in the agreement.
A contract administrator for construction contracts, is likely to be appointed for the administration of what might be deemed as the main or principle contract and they may also be referred to as the Principle Contract Manager (PCM). In turn a sub-contractor may have a certain obligation that relates to elements of the principle contract, such as the date of practical completion of the Principle Contract Works.
A related term might be the principal contractor, which under the CDM regulations is the contractor with control over the construction phase of a project involving more than one contractor. They are appointed in writing by the client (commercial or domestic) to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during this phase.
The term a principle might be used to convey a proposition that serves as the foundation for a system, a set of behaviours or chain of reasoning. In construction terms it may be combined with a number of words to cover different areas of expertise such as prevention, proximity, precautionary, fundamental or cost principles aswell as planning or permssion that is give in principle.
[edit] External Links
https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/principalcontractor.htm
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- CDM 2015.
- CDM 2015 contractor duties.
- CDM 2015 legal considerations.
- CDM 2015 principal contractor duties.
- Construction contract.
- Contract administrator for construction contracts.
- Contractual prevention principle.
- Costs principle.
- Fundamental Principle.
- Habitats of Principle Importance.
- Planning permission in principle measure.
- Planning in Principle measure.
- Permission in principle.
- Planning in principle.
- Principle of prevention.
- Proximity principle.
- Precautionary principle.
Featured articles and news
The future workforce: culture change and skill
Under the spotlight at UK Construction Week London.
A landmark moment for postmodern heritage.
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.




















