A housing development in Plymouth has received a Gold Award from the UK official Secured by Design for the crime prevention techniques in the landscaping and physical security of buildings.
The Taylor Wimpey development at Cann Bridge Meadow, Estover, started in August 2016, will have 48 private and 20 affordable homes for rent or shared ownership when completed in December 2017. A mix of two, three and four-bed energy efficient houses and apartments are being built by Taylor Wimpey, Exeter.
An SBD-trained Designing Out Crime Officer, employed by Devon & Cornwall Police and based at Plymouth City Council, worked with the developer, architect and local authority planners to design out crime and anti-social behaviour, before building.
This work included incorporating crime prevention techniques in the layout and landscaping, such as to increase natural surveillance and create defensible space. Residents have a clear view from their homes over parked cars, paths and public spaces. Some properties have ‘smart railings’ rather than hedges; and large mature trees have been kept to a minimum. Rear gardens have high fences and strategic hawthorn and holly planting provide green and natural defences. SBD techniques have been made part of the physical security of buildings using products – such as external doors and accessible windows – that meet SBD’s Police Preferred Specification standard so they are robust to resist physical attack by opportunistic burglars. Apartment letterboxes have protective cowls to prevent letterbox ‘fishing’. Every property has an external light and rear garden gates have Yale security key locks. A number of properties have rear lights and SBD accredited locks on sheds. Communal bin and cycle storage areas have keypad security locks; metal ground anchors protect bicycles and motorbikes.
SBD Development Officer, Emma Snow, said: “All the evidence suggests that the steps we have taken are likely to reduce crimes like burglary significantly when compared to new homes that are not similarly protected. This means we are providing a better and safer place for residents to live as well as to help reduce pressure on hard-pressed police resources to enable front-line operational officers to concentrate on more pressing and urgent priorities.”
Taylor Wimpey met partners, including police, to see that the landscaping and physical security measures came together; hence the SBD Gold Award. SBD also offers a Silver Award to developers for SBD measures into physical security of buildings; and a Bronze Award for refurbishments.
The developer’s contributions from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which was introduced by Government to help fund infrastructure required to support development in the Local Plan, and Section 106 contributions, agreed as part of planning permission to support local services and facilities, were in excess of £388,000.
