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Residential apartments and commercial units within the huge Perry Barr development, on the outskirts of Birmingham, including extra care homes, have achieved Secured by Design (SbD) Gold Awards for their security features.
The awards recognise the work to incorporate crime prevention measures into the landscaping of the developments and the physical security of its buildings. Three mixed-use buildings of residential apartments and commercial units – Plot 6 of the development – achieved gold and will provide 268 extra care residential apartments, restaurants, gym, village hall and shops, along with parking and landscaping. The scheme features a mix of one and two-bed apartments, public space and private courtyards and amenity spaces.
Another six residential buildings with ground floor retail space – Plot 7 of the development – also achieved gold. These will provide a further 270 residential apartments and three commercial units, featuring a mix of one and two-bed apartments, a rooftop garden, parking, landscaping, significant public space areas and private courtyards and amenity spaces.
Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) from West Midlands Police worked with Birmingham City Council, the site developer and management contractor Lendlease, architects Glancy Nichols and construction partners Kier from the pre-application consultation through the construction of the development to incorporate proven crime prevention measures into the layout and landscaping. They also worked on the security side of buildings by recommending doors, windows and locks that meet SbDโs Police Preferred Specification standard to ensure they are robust to resist physical attack by opportunistic burglars.
Wider regeneration
The development is part of the wider ยฃ700m-plus regeneration of Perry Barr in the north-west of the city after the 2022 Commonwealth Games stadium, including more leisure and community facilities and upgraded transport infrastructure. It sits on the former Birmingham City University teaching campus and will provide 1,400 new homes for Birmingham. The design aims to besides reduce the carbon footprint, providing efficient and sustainable living. The houses and apartments span the private sector, shared ownership and social housing overseen by the city council.
โBest project of the yearโ
The Perry Barr development won the โBest Project of the Yearโ in the Royal Town Planning Instituteโs (RTPI) West Midlands Awards for Planning Excellence 2023. Mark Silvester of West Midlands Police said: โDOCOs from West Midlands Police worked on the various phases of the development from a very early stage. Their focus wasnโt just on its use during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but on the legacy use of the development post the 2022 sporting event, providing award winning housing to this part of the city. DOCOโs were engaged with the various stakeholders throughout the stages of design and build.โ
