New Pools: What to Include in Your Project Brief

A successful new pool begins with a clear picture of how it will be used. A striking photograph can inspire a design, but it cannot decide your swimming season, maintenance routine or construction access. Before asking for a quotation, prepare a brief that explains both your wish list and the practical conditions at the property.

In this guide

• Start with the people who will use the pool
• Choose the environment before the finish
• Describe the site honestly
• Make heating and cover use part of the brief
• Set a complete budget and decision process
• Plan ownership before construction starts
• Frequently asked questions
• Make an enquiry

Start with the people who will use the pool

Explain whether the priority is exercise, family swimming, relaxation, entertaining or a combination. Describe who will use it, how frequently and whether access requirements need particular attention. Separate an occasional gathering from the routine the pool needs to support every week.

For exercise, discuss usable swimming length and whether counter-current equipment is worth assessing. For family use, discuss entry arrangements, supervision and suitable depth planning. Never assume that an attractive deep area or a fitted board makes a pool suitable for diving; that requires specialist design and clear use restrictions.

Choose the environment before the finish

Compare outdoor swimming pools with indoor swimming pools in terms of how you want to use the space. Outdoor design must work with the garden, cover, exposure and seasonal expectations. Indoor projects also need a coordinated building environment, including ventilation and humidity control.

An infinity pool design feature introduces overflow and balance-tank requirements. Choose it because it suits the site and brief, not because every premium pool needs one. Discuss alternative layouts and what each adds to the construction and ownership scope.

Describe the site honestly

• Approximate available area and any existing drawings.
• Access widths, slopes, steps and overhead obstructions.
• Nearby buildings, trees, boundaries and known services.
• Where construction vehicles and materials might be accommodated.
• Possible plant room and heat-pump locations.
• Restrictions on working hours, neighbours or shared access.

Photographs are useful for an initial discussion, but they do not replace measurement, technical investigation or approvals. If the pool is part of a larger renovation, identify the architect, landscaper and other contractors so responsibilities can be coordinated.

Make heating and cover use part of the brief

State your preferred swimming months and target water temperature. Those requirements influence heating selection and the cover strategy. Do not choose a heat pump on the pool volume alone, or compare quoted running costs without knowing the assumptions used.

Review swimming pool covers and rollers at the layout stage. A roller, slatted-cover housing or anchoring arrangement needs space. Ask how the cover will be opened, stored and serviced. A convenient cover is more likely to be used consistently, so usability matters alongside its appearance.

Set a complete budget and decision process

Give a realistic budget range and explain whether it includes surrounding landscaping, building work, electrical supply and aftercare equipment. Ask the team to distinguish core requirements from optional features. That lets you choose where extra expenditure provides the most value to your own use of the pool.

1. Prepare a brief and an initial discussion.
2. Arrange a site assessment and identify further investigations.
3. Develop the layout and technical specification.
4. Confirm approvals, responsibilities and the written scope.
5. Agree the programme, order stages and handover requirements.

See our pool design, installation and aftercare process to understand how those conversations can develop into a buildable proposal.

Plan ownership before construction starts

Discuss who will check the water, clean the pool and operate the equipment. Request an explanation of maintenance access and where manuals, tools and chemicals will be stored safely. The best installation for your property should be manageable after the construction team has left.

Useful starting accessories include pool water testing kits and pool cleaning kits and accessories, selected for the final system. Ask which items are included in the contract and which are optional. A clear handover is part of a complete project, not an afterthought.

See how exercise, heating and easier ownership were brought into one specification in our Starline Nova 100 swimming pool project. The customer’s brief led to twin-turbine counter-current swimming, an inverter-driven circulation pump and PoolCop Evolution management, alongside the finished pool and landscaping.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need exact dimensions before enquiring?

No. Approximate space, photographs and your intended use are enough for an initial conversation. Final dimensions follow design and site assessment.

Can a small garden accommodate a pool?

Possibly, but access, plant space, boundaries and the intended use all matter. A smaller pool still needs a complete technical and access plan.

Should I choose indoor or outdoor first?

Discuss it early because it changes the building, heating and maintenance scope. Your swimming season and how the pool fits the property are useful starting points.

Can the pool be part of a larger building project?

Yes, discuss coordination with your architect and other contractors early. The quotation should identify interfaces and who is responsible for each element.

What should I send with my first enquiry?

Send your postcode, site photographs, approximate available space, intended use, desired swimming season and budget range.

Discuss your pool project

Bring your ideas and site photographs to an initial discussion. make an enquiry about your new pool design and installation.

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