Location - an open aspect and approximately 6 hours plus of good light per day to promote good plant growth and illuminate the pond. Be aware that trees can present a problem with leaf fall especially laburnum and laurel, which can be poisonous (a net over pond can reduce this problem), and certain structures may cast ugly reflections. Avoid natural hollows, which may be frsot pockets and will encourage flooding or silting due to overland flow, and any areas with a high water table, which can make construction difficult and cause flexible liners to 'balloon up' due to water build up. If a high water table cannot be avoided, consider building a raised pool.
Size - almost no size limits, especialy of fish are no present, but if they are, try to avoid making the pool less than 1 sq. metre (11sq. feet). Smaller, shallower pools will be very limiting when it comes to addind fish (and to some extent plants) and often offer a less stable environment which is likley to require more maintenance. Consider that you may wish or need to construct a waterfall or bog garden, and/or make provision for a filter system - how will these fit around the pond in your chsoen location?
Design - the world is your oyster - raised, formal or informal there is almost no limit to your choice of shape or style.
Filtration - where fish stocks are appropriate and the pool is well planted to guidelines, and therefore should have an achievable long term balance, filtration should not be essential. However, if this balance is unlikley due to plant/fish stocking levels, a filter would be stronger recommended.
Fish - without filtration try to maintain low stocks. No strict limits on species but in the long term avoid koi or orfe in pools under 4 sq. metres (43 sq. feet) and those less than 60-75 cm (24-30 inches) deep.
Recommended lining materials - a flexible liner is almost always the ideal choice, but virtually all other options are applicable.
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