A carbon neutral development in the London Borough of Merton has become the first such development in the area to achieve a Secured by Design (SBD) award for the level of physical security provided in its buildings.
The Zero, in Raynes Park is a 35 unit residential development, which started with the vision of creating one of the most planet-friendly developments in the UK, without compromising on design or function. Security was important to the developers, who wished to maximise security and were keen to keep their future residents safe, so they worked with a Metropolitan Police Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO) to ensure that appropriate security measures commensurate to the local crime risk were incorporated into the development.
Metropolitan Police Designing Out Crime Officer Neal Micklewright said: “A good working relationship with the developer helped ensure that all aspects of security were evaluated and addressed constantly. Security was under review throughout the build process and an eagerness to ensure that the site achieved the desired SBD certification meant any issues that arose were resolved without compromise. Security considerations have been assessed throughout this development and I’m really pleased with the final result”.
The development’s Architect/developer, said: “We really wanted to ensure that our building was as secure as possible for our young and first time buyers. It’s a big step buying your first home, especially in London and in many cases the ‘bank of mum and dad’ are needed to step in to help them get up on the ladder. One of the important things for parents is to know that their young adult children are as safe as possible. Having spoken to Neal and his team, we worked collaboratively to understand what would be needed in terms of physical security and also the SBD team helped massively in the CCTV design, this definitely made the process far easier and I really felt that we were working as a team to gain the accreditation. I’m not saying it was super easy but working with Neal and his partner made it less complicated than it sounded from the outset, well done guys, it was a pleasure working with you and great to see that you really appreciated the overall scheme and what we were trying to deliver”.
Improved security
Developers around the UK can achieve SBD awards for incorporating crime prevention measures and techniques into their developments in all kinds of building sectors, such as residential, education, health, transport, commercial, retail, sport and leisure. Indeed, SBD can be used as evidence to discharge third-party obligations under Part Q of Schedule 1 (Security) to the English Building Regulations, the Scottish Building Standard 4.13 (Security) and Welsh Building Regulations Part Q (Security – Dwellings). These awards are gained by working with police Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs), who advise architects, developers and local authority planners long before construction begins – and continue to provide advice and guidance until the development is complete.
Academic and other research shows that improving standards of security in brand new and refurbished properties, helps deter and reduce crime. Reducing crime and the fear of crime has direct links to better physical and mental well-being, such as with regard to high volume crimes like domestic abuse.
The built environment influences the behaviour of people who work, live, socialise or simply pass through. SBD seeks to create environments where the law-abiding feel safe and secure whilst at the same time causing the criminal or anti-social to feel vulnerable to detection and thereby influence behaviour in a positive way. This continues to be a key objective for SBD.
Find out more about SBD Developers Awards here.
SBD Design Guides
SBD has produced a series of authoritative Design Guides to assist the building, design and construction industry to incorporate security into developments to comply with the Building Regulations in England, Scotland and Wales and meet the requirements of SBD.
These Design Guides, available to download for free at the SBD website, have been updated over the years to keep pace with changing patterns of criminal behaviour and advances in building design and new technology.
They are a valuable source of reference to architects, developers, self-builders, local authority planners and police officers and cover a range of building sectors, including residential, education, health, transport and commercial.
Police Designing Out Crime Officers
DOCOs provide specialist crime reduction advice to the public, businesses and colleagues about premises or property security. They also work with building developers, architects, and council planning departments regarding new developments and refurbishments, to ‘design out’ crimes like burglary and anti-social behaviour (ASB) by providing advice on street lighting, building and street layout, entrances and exits – as well as preferred standards and specifications for doors, windows, and locks, under the Secured by Design initiative.
DOCOs are able to deliver site specific interventions required to help design out crime in areas that suffer disproportionately from acquisitive crime, based on local crime pattern analysis, police, local authority and community engagement and the collective knowledge and experience of how criminals behave.
DOCOs are specialist problem solvers, working every day to make a positive difference, changing lives for the better and helping people to be safe and secure in their homes.