diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 06eac26..dee8607 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ name: Documentation checks
 on:
   pull_request:
   push:
-    branches: [master]
+    branches: [development, master]
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 permissions:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
index 1f25116..117e442 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ concurrency:
 
 jobs:
   build:
+    if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a24774f..de88658 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,7 +15,12 @@ make serve
 
 Preview at <http://127.0.0.1:8000>. `make build` produces `_build/html/` and treats
 Sphinx warnings as failures. `make lint` additionally checks external links.
-The Deploy workflow builds with the same lock and publishes GitHub Pages on master.
+Feature/fix PRs target the default `development` branch. CI checks PRs and
+integration pushes without publishing. When ready, promote `development` to
+`master` with a release PR using **Create a merge commit**, then bring `master`
+back into `development`. The Deploy workflow builds with the same lock and
+publishes GitHub Pages only from `master`, including manual runs. Keep both
+long-lived branches and do not squash release promotions.
 
 ## API snapshot