Designing Out Crime Assessment

Transcription

1 Designing Out Crime Assessment New Flats (Affordable Housing) Yew Tree Road Moreton Wirral CH46 8UA Construction of flats complex. For Bernard Taylor Partnership Ltd Tel Version 2: 14 th February 2012 Ref A869/11 Prepared by: Steve Morris Architectural Liaison Unit Police Headquarters Canning Place Liverpool L1 8JX Not Protectively Marked 1

2 PRE APPLICATION CONSULTATION NEW FLATS YEW TREE ROAD Moreton WIRRAL CH46 8UA Architect Ref 2464 Drawing S B These observations and comments result from a consultation request from Bernard Taylor Partnership Ltd on behalf of their clients Wirral Partnership Homes following a site visit and an examination of available drawings. A design and access statement is not yet available. The following recommendations, which are not a definitive list, are reasonable, appropriate, realistic and also cost effective. If they are implemented during construction, then the development will be built to the principles of Secured By Design and may be eligible for the award on completion. Although no guarantee can be given, they may provide for the creation of a safe, secure and non-threatening environment. It is not within the remit of Merseyside Police Architectural Liaison Officers to comment about other aspects of this proposal such as suitability and scale. The proposed development is for approximately 16 ground and first floor flats with associated parking for at least 16 vehicles. The flats will form part of an affordable housing development set within a residential area of owner occupied and rented properties. The risk from Crime and Disorder issues in this location is MEDIUM to HIGH. Having spoken with the Neighbourhood Police Inspector Peter Kolokotroni this is not a high crime area and this development is unlikely to provide any policing issues however this immediate location has a history of anti social behaviour caused by youths causing annoyance during the previous two years. This immediate location has been the subject of a Section 30 Youth Dispersal Order to prevent young people gathering in groups, thereby reducing opportunities for anti-social behaviour. Design & Layout The proposed development is set within existing green space predominantly used for sports purposes and an adjacent community business centre. There is evidence of significant target hardening in relation to the Community centre with CCTV and boundary treatments. 2

3 The proposed main pedestrian and vehicular entrance will be via gates opposite Yew Way. The buildings are multiple storey with vehicular parking within the centre and utility space at the rear. This proposed development will fit in well with the current surroundings. Perimeter The proposed perimeter of 2100mm wall and railing in-fill is acceptable and should be installed to the front edge of the brickwork to reduce climbing opportunities. The front railing proposal of 1200mm is also acceptable. Car Parking The parking is all within the complex in dedicated parking bays. Their proposed position maximises good natural surveillance opportunities. There is a requirement to provide secure cycle parking in accordance with the Local Authority Planning requirements and options as designated by the requirements of Section 35 New Homes 2010 publication. Building shell Building sight lines should be kept as simple as possible as recesses reduce natural surveillance and provide climbing opportunities. To reduce the risk of theft alternative non-metallic materials should be used for example roof flashings with appropriate signage. The proposed location of the Wheelie Bin storage is acceptable. Utility meter boxes should be installed on the outer faces of the buildings to remove the requirement to enter homes. Rainwater pipes etc, should be located as close to the building shell so as not to provide climbing opportunities. Windows All ground floor and any accessible or perceived vulnerable windows should be be independently certificated to BS 7950: 1997 Windows of Enhanced Security as well as the relevant performance standard i.e. BS 644 for timber windows, BS 4873 for aluminium, BS 7412 for PVC U or BS 6510 for steel windows. A further acceptable standard is WCL 4. All ground floor and vulnerable windows must include minimum 6.4mm laminated glazing within its double glazing system. With effect from 1 st January 2011 all laminated glass must be certificated to BS EN rating P2A. 3

4 Doors The security standard for front door of each individual flat as well as the communal entrance doorsets is BS PAS 24 or LPS 1175 SR2. Rear doors should meet the same standard. Locking systems must include one or both of the following attributes: o A cylinder certificated to BS EN 1303 grade 5 key security and grade 0 attack resistance o A lock certificated to BS 3621:2007, BS 8621:2007 or BS 10621:2007 All glazing to doors and any adjacent glazed panels must be minimum 6.4mm laminated. A door chain or opening limiter must be installed on entrance doors. A door viewer must be fitted unless the doorset includes clear glazing. If the door has a letterbox a suitable deflector plate should be fitted to prevent fishing for car keys or releasing the door lock. Lighting External lighting levels to be to BS :2003 standard. Low energy consumption lamps with a photo-electric cell (dusk till dawn sensor) should be considered to provide best spread of light without creating shadows and be resistant to vandalism. These should ideally be placed next to the entrances and exits to the building. Security systems If intruder alarm systems are to be installed then it should comply with one of the following standards: o BS EN and PD6662 (wired system) o BS 6799 (wire free system) If a system is installed and a police response is required then reference should be made to the ACPO Security Systems policy at As a minimum a fused spur should be installed to all units to enable the installation of an alarm system. Access Control Access to the upper floor units should be controlled by an audio visual verification system the details of which can be provided at a later date. If an electronic opening system is installed this must be integral to the doorset and not added on as this will invalidate any secured by design certification. 4

5 I would also recommend access control measures on circulatory corridor doors on any upper floors to prevent casual intrusion. Fire exit doors should have no external door furniture and should be manufactured from steel. Any Plant room doors should also be secure and of steel construction. Landscaping Given the anti-social behaviour history of this location it is important that significant effort is put into ensuring that any opportunities for youth congregation is eliminated or significantly reduced. Landscaping should not impede natural surveillance and must not create potential hiding places for intruders, especially adjacent to footpaths or close to buildings where it may obscure doors and widows. The frontage should be in open view. The location and species of trees should not allow them to obscure lighting or become climbing aids. The specification should take account the maintenance needs to ensure continued compliance as plants grow. The correct use of certain species of plants can help prevent graffiti and loitering, and in addition to fencing may be used to define/reinforce boundaries. Defensive planting i.e. Berberis or similar may be utilised to fulfil this purpose. Construction site risk assessment Consideration should be given to securing the site during construction, to prevent unauthorised access and theft of equipment. Consideration should also be given to providing a secure storage area for all tools, equipment and building materials on the site. Contractors who provide site security during the construction phase should be Security Industry Authority (SIA) Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) compliant. Conclusions Due to the nature of this application, a number of assumptions have been made in order to make some of the recommendations. If outline planning permission is granted and a more detailed Reserved Matters application is submitted, then this document can be revised as and when the design progresses. The developer is likely to seek Secured by Design accreditation and if the above recommendations were to be implemented the scheme could be considered for award by way of formal application form (please discuss prior to any submission ) - Documentary evidence on completion in respect of the door, window and glazing standards would also be required. 5

6 Please also note that in the event of any subsequent material changes to the scheme it will be necessary for the Architectural Liaison Officer to reassess the comments made above. Crime Prevention advice is given free of charge without the intention of creating a contract. Neither the Home Office nor the Police take any legal responsibility for the advice given. This advice is based on information supplied by you and current crime trends in the area, and can only give a view on what measures might reduce the risk of crime and there can be no guarantee that the measures will prevent crime. Signed: Steve Morris Architectural Liaison Unit RM 4/39 Police HQ Caning Place L1 8JX