Statement of need for building design and construction

The client's statement of need is part of an ongoing process of defining their requirements:

• Statement of need.
• Strategic brief.
• Project brief.

The statement of need describes the client's possible requirements in outline, which at this stage may or may not result in the need for a project. It may include the following information:

• A description of the business need that may result in a project.
• An assessment of how it will contribute to the corporate strategy.
• An analysis of the high level options (such as do something, do nothing, new build, extend, refurbish, relocate, change the way the organisation works, etc.).
• A description of the nature of the client, and its history.
• A description of the nature of client's operations.
• Information about existing premises and likely future requirements.
• The assumed budget (and the basis for the budget).
• The assumed programme.
• An assessment of the potential for future changes.

The statement of need is likely to be in a report format, however, where possible, information and requirements should be scheduled in a database or spreadsheet that will be easy to expand and will be easy to use to test whether proposals satisfy requirements later in the project.

If independent client advisers are to be appointed to assist with preparing a more detailed 'strategic brief' and to assess the feasibility of the proposed project, the nature of their role and scope of services may be based on the project description in the statement of need.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Briefing documents.
• Champions.
• Client requirements.
• Concept.
• Feasibility studies.
• Output-based specification.
• Preliminary business case.
• Project brief.
• Project execution plan.
• Stakeholders.
• Strategic brief.
• Strategic outline case.
• User panels.

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