A large housing development in Essex has been purchased by the local authority for the benefit of residents, having achieved a Secured by Design Gold Award for incorporating crime prevention measures into its landscaping and the physical security of its buildings
The Burnt Mills development in Harlow includes 172 one- and two-bedroom properties designed and constructed for rental. The development also includes ground floor commercial space, 150 cycle racks and 142 residents parking spaces – 23 of which have electric vehicle charging points – and communal roof gardens.
An Essex Police Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO) worked with the developer from the pre-planning stage in 2017 to ensure that appropriate security measures commensurate to the local crime risk were incorporated into the development.
This work included increasing natural surveillance and creating defensible space, as well as incorporating products that meet Secured by Design’s (SBD) Police Preferred Specification standard into the physical security of buildings to ensure they are sufficiently robust to resist physical attack by opportunistic burglars. These measures included fitting external doors and accessible windows with robust locking systems.
Social housing and affordable homes for Harlow people
Harlow Council recently announced its purchase of the development in a move to secure more Harlow social housing and affordable homes for Harlow people – all 172 homes will be available to anyone who lives in Harlow.
Thirty percent of homes (52), which is three times more than the original planning approval, will be allocated to Harlow families on the Housing Needs Register at affordable rent levels (at least 20% below market rent). A further 120 homes will be available to Harlow residents at market rent levels.
The development has also been awarded the National House-Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Award in the High-rise Builder category.
Caroline Peters from Essex Police said: “Millbrook Studios development was part of the Harlow regeneration scheme and was my first large development as a DOCO. I worked closely with the architects to ensure the development could achieve the SBD Gold Award. Originally the developer was only seeking Silver; however, we worked together to easily achieve the higher standard.
“Hollybrook were very engaging and considered my recommendations and security provisions. They wanted the development to be safe and secure for the future residents.
“Harlow Council has recently purchased the development, located in a very active part of the town. It is encouraging Secured by Design has been implemented as this gives Essex Police that extra reassurance that residents of Harlow are safe in their homes.”
Ian Brown from developer Hollybrook said: “We are thrilled to announce that our Millbrook Studios development has been awarded the Secured by Design Gold Award.
“This significant gateway regeneration project not only delivers much-needed housing for the Harlow community but also prioritises the safety of its residents by designing out the risk of crime. Hollybrook, in collaboration with Burwell Architects, worked diligently with the Designing Out Crime Officer to ensure the development exceeds the highest standards to provide safe secure homes.”
Announcing the purchase of the development earlier in the year, Councillor Dan Swords, leader of Harlow Council, said: “We have worked extremely hard to buy this private development for the benefit of Harlow residents. This is an impressive and modern development, which has been built to a very high standard and is located on a key gateway in and out of Harlow.”
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, 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 wellbeing, 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 while 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.
*Please note: This is a commercial profile
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