diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 4a57a4c1c..43d93c9f5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 **BREAKING CHANGES**
 
 ENHANCEMENTS:
+* Add `make docs` to build and preview documentation ([#5007](https://github.com/microsoft/AzureTRE/issues/5007))
 
 ## (0.29.0) (August 14, 2026)
 **BREAKING CHANGES**
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c315a8795..e26000191 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.PHONY: bootstrap-init mgmt-deploy mgmt-destroy build-api-image push-api-image tre-deploy tre-destroy letsencrypt
+.PHONY: bootstrap-init mgmt-deploy mgmt-destroy build-api-image push-api-image tre-deploy tre-destroy letsencrypt docs
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := help
 
 SHELL:=/bin/bash
@@ -265,6 +265,14 @@ lint: ## 🧹 Lint all files
 lint-docs:
 	LINTER_REGEX_INCLUDE='./docs/.*\|./mkdocs.yml' $(MAKE) lint
 
+# Description: Documentation helper target
+# Single target `make docs` will install deps and serve the site locally (default). Set MODE=build for build-only mode.
+# Example: make docs            -> installs deps and serves site locally
+# Example: make docs MODE=build -> installs deps and builds site only
+docs: ## Install docs deps and build/serve the MkDocs site
+	@bash ./devops/scripts/docs.sh $(MODE)
+
+
 # Description: Build the bundle with Porter.
 # # check-params is called at the end since it needs the bundle image,
 # # so we build it first and then run the check.
diff --git a/devops/scripts/docs.sh b/devops/scripts/docs.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..163a731e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/devops/scripts/docs.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+PY=python3
+VENV=.venv
+REQS=docs/requirements.txt
+
+PORT=${PORT:-8000}
+
+usage(){
+  echo "Usage: $0 [build|serve|install]" >&2
+  exit 2
+}
+
+if [ "$#" -gt 1 ]; then
+  usage
+fi
+
+CMD=${1:-serve}
+
+if [ ! -f "$REQS" ]; then
+  echo "Requirements file not found: $REQS" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [ ! -d "$VENV" ]; then
+  echo "Creating virtualenv at $VENV"
+  $PY -m venv "$VENV"
+fi
+
+# shellcheck disable=SC1091
+source "$VENV/bin/activate"
+
+pip install --upgrade pip
+pip install -r "$REQS"
+
+get_free_port() {
+  local start_port="${1:-8000}"
+  "$PY" -c "
+import socket
+start = $start_port
+for p in range(start, start + 100):
+    with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as s:
+        try:
+            s.bind(('127.0.0.1', p))
+            print(p)
+            break
+        except OSError:
+            continue
+"
+}
+
+case "$CMD" in
+  build)
+    echo "Building mkdocs site..."
+    "$VENV/bin/mkdocs" build --strict
+    ;;
+  serve)
+    FREE_PORT=$(get_free_port "$PORT")
+    if [ "$FREE_PORT" != "$PORT" ]; then
+      echo "Port $PORT is in use. Using next available port: $FREE_PORT"
+    fi
+    echo "Starting mkdocs serve (http://127.0.0.1:${FREE_PORT})..."
+    "$VENV/bin/mkdocs" serve -a "127.0.0.1:${FREE_PORT}"
+    ;;
+  install)
+    echo "Installed documentation dependencies into $VENV"
+    ;;
+  *)
+    usage
+    ;;
+esac
diff --git a/docs/contributing.md b/docs/contributing.md
index 888983d1b..6aaacaf45 100644
--- a/docs/contributing.md
+++ b/docs/contributing.md
@@ -28,4 +28,29 @@
 
   * [Report an Issue or Make a Suggestion](https://github.com/microsoft/AzureTRE/issues/new/choose)
 
+## Building and Serving Documentation Locally
+
+To preview and test changes to the documentation site locally:
+
+* **Serve documentation locally (default)**:
+  ```bash
+  make docs
+  ```
+  This installs required dependencies, selects the first available port (starting at `8000`), and starts the local MkDocs server.
+
+  You can also specify a custom port:
+  ```bash
+  PORT=8100 make docs
+  ```
+
+* **Build documentation (build-only)**:
+  ```bash
+  make docs MODE=build
+  ```
+
+* **Lint documentation files**:
+  ```bash
+  make lint-docs
+  ```
+
 Thanks! :heart: :heart: :heart: