A number of residential apartments and commercial units within Birmingham’s Perry Barr development, 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 developments and the physical security of their buildings, enhancing the safety of those living and working there.
Three mixed-use buildings of residential apartments and commercial units – Plot 6 of the development – achieved an SBD Gold Award and will provide 268 extra care residential apartments, restaurants, gym, village hall and shops, along with parking and landscaping. The scheme features a combination of one and two-bed apartments, significant public space areas and private courtyards and amenity spaces.
An additional six residential buildings with ground floor retail space – Plot 7 of the development – also achieved an SBD Gold Award. These will provide a further 270 residential apartments and three commercial units, featuring a combination of one and two-bed apartments, a rooftop garden, parking, landscaping, significant public space areas and private courtyards and amenity spaces.
Specialist police 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 of the development.
They also worked to improve the security of buildings through the use of doors, windows and locks that meet SBD’s Police Preferred Specification standard to ensure they are sufficiently robust to resist physical attack by opportunistic burglars.
Wider regeneration for Birmingham
The development is part of the wider £700million-plus regeneration of Perry Barr in the north-west of the city around the 2022 Commonwealth Games stadium, including improved leisure and community facilities along with upgraded transport infrastructure.
It sits on the former Birmingham City University teaching campus and will provide 1,400 much-needed new homes for Birmingham.
The design aims to raise the aspiration of local inner city living and reduce the carbon footprint, providing efficient and sustainable living. The houses and apartments span the private sector, shared ownership and social housing overseen by Birmingham City Council.
‘Best project of the year’
The Perry Barr development won the ‘Best Project of the Year’ in the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) West Midlands Awards for Planning Excellence 2023.
Mark Silvester, West Midlands Police “DOCO’s from West Midlands Police worked on the various phases of the development from a very early stage. Their focus wasn’t 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. DOCO’s were engaged with the various stakeholders throughout the stages of design and build.”
Improved security standards
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.
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