diff --git a/docs/development_handbook.md b/docs/development_handbook.md
index d00e9f3d2a..10de0401a7 100644
--- a/docs/development_handbook.md
+++ b/docs/development_handbook.md
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 | 0.22.0  | 2022-07-05 | Remco Vermeulen | Update section `Generation of query templates from rule specifications` to include external help files.                                                                                                                                                                                   |
 | 0.23.0  | 2022-07-05 | Remco Vermeulen | Update text to consider both the C++ and the C standards.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
 | 0.24.0  | 2022-07-05 | Remco Vermeulen | Update release process to include steps for external help files.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
+| 0.25.0  | 2022-07-22 | Jeroen Ketema   | Document the existence and purpose of the `next` branch.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
 
 ## Scope of work
 
@@ -605,6 +606,10 @@ All software development processes associated with this repository should be doc
 
 Requirements and project planning are maintained separately within an internal repository at GitHub.
 
+### Purpose ot the `next` branch
+
+This git repository also has a [`next` branch](https://github.com/github/codeql-coding-standards/tree/next). The purpose of this branch is to track changes that that will become necessary when upgrading the CodeQL external dependencies as described in section _Upgrading external dependencies_. The changes on the `next` branch will undergo only light reviewing. As such, a full review as described in section _Code review and automated checks_ is required when merging these changes into `main`; no releases should be made from the `next` branch. We aim to ensure that the changes on the `next` branch are as complete as possible so that merging into `main` will be straightforward.
+
 ## Task Automation
 
 In the `.vscode` directory this repository comes with a `tasks.json` file which automates some of the tasks described in this document. To access them, in VSCode use `Ctrl+Shift+P` and select `Run Task`.