Unit 52 Advanced Housing Design & Specification (L/618/8129) Assignment Brief 2026

Subject	Unit 52 Advanced Housing Design & Specification (L/618/8129)

Unit 52 Advanced Housing Design & Specification Assignment Brief

Qualification	Pearson BTEC Higher Nationals Construction
Unit Number	52
Unit Title	Advanced Housing Design & Specification
Unit code	L/618/8129
Unit level	5
Credit value	15

Introduction

In this unit, students will explore the role of design and specification in the production of housing. The emphasis in this unit is on expanding the knowledge and awareness of the processes of design, information production and construction, integrating the work of other professionals and consultants, to ensure high-quality design output.

Students will develop strategies and propositions that achieve stakeholder needs by addressing design, technical, environment and cost challenges.

By the end of this unit, students will have a greater awareness of managing their own design process as well as an understanding of how other professionals contribute to design and specification.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students will be able to:

LO1 Review a given site and client brief to develop a housing design proposition

LO2 Prepare building information modelling data and construction information in support of a housing design proposition

LO3 Produce specifications and schedules, based on construction information, for a contract tender

LO4 Present a housing design proposal and tender package to a diverse audience, integrating information from other consultants.

Assignment Tasks

LO1 Review a given site and client brief to develop a housing design proposition

Site considerations
Scale
Location
Traffic/access
Zoning/planning
Design considerations
Site/building orientation
Client/user requirements
Site density
Housing type/typology
Procurement model
Construction method
Health and safety
Building regulations
Environmental considerations
Materials
Energy supply
Heating/ventilation
Material transport
Construction/manufacturing method
Consultant integration
Information (e.g., structural, mechanical, cost)
Integration
Clash detection
Value engineering
Design revision

LO2 Prepare building information modelling data and construction information in support of a housing design proposition

Drawings
Presentation drawings
Technical drawings
Models
Physical models
Digital models
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Consultant information
Structural drawings
Mechanical drawings
BIM
Cost information
Manufacturing information

LO3 Produce specifications and schedules, based on construction information, for a contract tender

Specification types
Outline specification
Performance specification
Prescriptive specification
Proprietary specifications
Schedules
Door schedules
Hardware schedules
Window schedules
Schedules of Work
Contracts
Contract type
Standard clauses and conditions
Contract prelims

LO4 Present a housing design proposal and tender package to a diverse audience, integrating information from other consultants

Proposal
Feasibility
Design
Engineering
Cost
Audience
Professional
Non-professional
Statutory bodies
Presentation
Format (e.g., written report, audio-visual, etc.)
Feedback and reflection

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Pass	Merit	Distinction
LO1 Review a given site and client brief to develop a housing design proposition		D1 Critically evaluate the influence of consultant information on a housing design proposition.
P1 Identify issues and considerations of site to inform a design proposition. P2 Analyse a brief to develop a design proposition, responding to identified issues.	M1 Assess the need for different consultants to support the development of a housing proposal.
LO2 Prepare building information modelling data and construction information in support of a housing design proposition
P3 Produce building information data for a housing design proposal. P4 Prepare construction drawings and details in support of a housing design proposition.	M2 Use building information modelling systems to coordinate information from consultants.

Pass	Merit	Distinction
LO3 Produce specifications and schedules, based on construction information, for a contract tender.		D2 Evaluate the impact of consultants’ information on the production of construction information, specifications and schedules.
P5 Produce specification information based on building information modelling data and construction information. P6 Prepare relevant schedules for a contract tender.	M3 Compile information required for a contract tender package for an appropriate form of contract.
LO4 Present a housing design proposal and tender package to a diverse audience, integrating information from other consultants.
P7 Present a coherent housing design proposal to a diverse audience. P8 Integrate the information from consultants in support of a housing design and tender presentation.	M4 Defend a design proposal in response to feedback and comment.		D3 Reflect on feedback and comments to identify areas of good practice and areas for future improvement in a design proposal.

Recommended Resources

Print resources

BALLAST, D. (2009), Architect’s Handbook of Construction Detailing, John Wiley & Sons

BUSSEY, P. (2019), CDM 2015: A Practical Guide for Architects and Designers, Routledge

CHING, F. (2011), Building Construction Illustrated, John Wiley & Sons

CHUDLEY, R., GREENO, R., KOVAC, K. (2020), Chudley and Greeno’s Building Construction Handbook, Butterworth-Heinemann

CIBSE (2006), Environmental Design, CIBSE

CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS INSTITUTE (2011), The CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide, John Wiley & Sons

HUTH, M. (2018), Understanding Construction Drawings, Cengage Learning

KALIN, M., WEYGANT, R., ROSEN, H., REGENER, J. (2010), Construction Specifications Writing: Principles and Procedures, John Wiley & Sons

LAWSON, B. (2006), How Designers Think: The Design Process Demystified, Routledge

MCDONOUGH, W., BRAUNGART, M. (2010), Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, North Point Press

MEIER, H., WYATT, D. (2008), Construction Specifications, Delmar Pub

Unit 52 Advanced Housing Design & Specification (L/618/8129) Assignment Brief 2026

Unit 52 Advanced Housing Design & Specification Assignment Brief

Introduction

Learning Outcomes

Assignment Tasks

LO1 Review a given site and client brief to develop a housing design proposition

LO2 Prepare building information modelling data and construction information in support of a housing design proposition

LO3 Produce specifications and schedules, based on construction information, for a contract tender

LO4 Present a housing design proposal and tender package to a diverse audience, integrating information from other consultants

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Recommended Resources

Print resources

Links