17 Development / Project Briefs

Question 1

What is the purpose of a development brief?

Answer 1

To stipulate interest in a site

Question 2

What is typically found in a development brief?

Answer 2

• Site analysis (development principles and an urban design framework)
• Establish what a site should achieve for a given location
• Include a masterplan (use classes, open spaces, access arrangements)
• Varying levels of detail (depending how soon planning is)

Question 3

When are development briefs written?

Answer 3

Prior to planning

Question 4

What type of site usually needs a development brief?

Answer 4

Large / complex sites

Question 5

What is an important step in development brief drafting?

Answer 5

Community consultation (more weight held to them)

Question 6

What is the purpose of a project brief?

Answer 6

Prepared once the development brief has advanced

Question 7

Why do project briefs typically follow development briefs?

Answer 7

Enable design team to commence work on a scheme which won’t fundamentally change in nature

This also means they will be more in line with Local Plan policies

Question 8

What do project briefs typically include?

Answer 8

• Time, budget, quality expectations, key risks
• Site info (surveys)
• Client preferences / policies (performance requirements e.g. HQM)
• Legal constraints (heritage / environmental / access)
• Planning consents

Question 9

How do you negotiate agreements with stakeholders such as LPAs / adjacent site owners / purchasers?

Answer 9

LPAs:
- Pre-apps
- DRPs
- Community consultation

Adjacent site owners:
- Meetings
- Third party consultants like Kate Grant

Purchasers:
- Use the development and project briefs to inform them

Question 10

How do you plan the implementation of a scheme with contractors or the local authority?

Answer 10

LPAs:
- Pre-commencement conditions
- Pre-construction conditions
- Pre-occupation conditions

Contractors:
- Tender
- Site walks
- Briefs and appendices

Question 11

How do you derive indicators of success within a development or project brief?

Answer 11

Development brief:
- Minimum targets (GEA / unit number / efficiencies)

Project brief:
- HQM score

Question 12

Please explain what you included in the Plot Development Brief?

Answer 12

• Use classes
• Tenure
• Market positioning
• Massing parameters
• Access and servicing arrangements
• Open space
• Programme of design and planning milestones

Question 13

What did you review to inform the Plot Development Brief and why was this important?

Answer 13

• Reviewed consultation material following the masterplan consultation
• To ensure the development brief captured any key principles or requirements that had arisen from it

Question 14

Please explain what you included in the Interior Design Project Brief?

Answer 14

• Vision to reflect the industrial character of Silvertown through textures and colours
• Annotated GA plans to show which parts were to be designed
• List of deliverables, including CGIs, GA plans, and FF&E schedule

Question 15

Please explain what you included in the PEC Development Brief?

Answer 15

• Key objective (to connect into the ectogrid)
• Spatial and operational requirements
• Optimal location based off proximity to factory and maximum building heights parameter plan

Question 16

What were the spatial and operational requirements of the PEC?

Answer 16

Spatial:
- 600 sqm
- 7.8 metres high

Operational:
- 2 loading bays for 3.5 tonne vehicles
- Access to electricity, water, drainage, telecomms, ectogrid pipework, connect to dock

Question 17

Please explain what you included in the Amenity Project Brief?

Answer 17

• Reviewed masterplan consultation to understand whether the community had specified a desire for any amenities
• They wanted convenience stores, healthcare provision and entertainment
• My analysis shows a lack of gym and sports facilities

Question 18

What did you advise in the amenity brief?

Answer 18

• Core amenities such as convenience stores, healthcare provision and gym should be delivered first in phase 1
• Additional amenities such as cinema / water sports facilities should be delivered in later phases

Question 19

At what stage does a development brief happen?

Question 20

What is the difference between a development brief and a project brief?

Question 21

What sections would I expect to see in a development brief?

Question 22

Which members of the design team would input into the development brief?

Question 23

What is the internal process for approving a development brief?

Question 24

Why is it important to understand market trends in a development brief?

Question 25

In the plot development brief, how did you select use classes?

Question 26

In the plot development brief, how did you validate performance assumptions?

Question 27

In the interior design project brief, as this was a brief within a larger masterplan, how did you ensure it aligned with the overarching development brief?

Question 28

Why did you need an interior design brief?

Question 29

What use class was the interior design brief for?

Question 30

For the PEC development brief, how did this differ from a development brief for a residential development?

Question 31

For the PEC development brief, how did the development brief financially assess the PEC?

Question 32

For the PEC development brief, what other similar schemes are there in London?

Question 33

For the amenity brief, in addition to the community consultation, how else did you assess the amenities required for a new masterplan?

Question 34

For the amenity brief, how did you assess the benefit of these amenities to the masterplan?

Question 35

In your development and project brief level one, you didn't mention planning or legal considerations? Did you also include a summary of these? Was the plot a part of a master plan, if so, what is an example of this?

Question 36

Which other consultants contribute to your development and project briefs?

Question 37

You mentioned a design code in your mini masterplan, is that not relevant in the plot configuration example too?

Question 38

Please can you explain what an ectogrid is, you say it is the most effective way to recycle energy - how does that work?