Who appoints the Principal Contractor?

• A. The local planning authority.
• B. The client.
• C. The principal designer.
• D. The project manager.

Answer: (B)

In this context, the party responsible for appointing the Principal Contractor is the client. The Principal Contractor is the person or organization that will manage construction work and coordinate site safety during the building phase, and that responsibility sits with the client who has overall accountability for the project. The local planning authority handles planning permissions and approvals, not contractor appointments. The Principal Designer focuses on coordinating design and safety during the design phase, not on hiring the construction contractor. A Project Manager may assist with procurement and delivery, but the formal appointment rests with the client (who may delegate to an agent).