The Guide is based on research commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The research found that the standard of briefs is very mixed and that some briefs are prepared unnecessarily. This Guide was prepared in response to these findings, and draws on past and current practice throughout England and Wales. A site-specific brief forms a stepping stone between the provisions of the development plan and the requirements of a planning application. The process of preparing and implementing a planning brief provides a framework for collecting information about a site, and investigating and evaluating different interests in it.
Every site is unique in some way.
Every site-specific brief will be similarly unique. There are basic principles common to all briefs, and others which are common to most. There are also common pitfalls which this Guide will help those preparing planning briefs to avoid. The Guide suggests local planning authorities consider whether a site-specific brief is the most appropriate way of resolving planning issues. It advises that they check that they have sufficient resources to produce an effective brief.