Designing out crime and designing in community safety should be central to the planning and delivery of new development (Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future, p.22) (Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention, p.7; p.16)(PPG13, para 28) (By Design, Urban design in the planning system: towards better practice, p.8) (UDP, Policy DES10).
Natural and formal surveillance should be created in all developments and in open space (Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention 2004, p. 10; 24; 28) (UDP, Policy DES10) (Design and Crime SPD, para 4.7-4.9; Policy DC6; Policy DC8; Policy DC15; Policy DC18).
Crime prevention measures that adversely affect the way a place looks and feels can undermine the aim of safe and sustainable communities (Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention, p.34) (UDP, Policy DES10).
Footpaths, walkways and dedicated cycle routes should be permeable, overlooked, well illuminated and pedestrian friendly (Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention, 2004, p. 16) (A New Deal for Transport cited Personal Security Issues in Pedestrian Journeys, p.5) (By Design: Better Places to Live – A Companion Guide to PPG3, p.15) (PPS1, para 36) (UDP, Policy DES10) (Design and Crime SPD, Policy DC2).
Good quality lighting should be designed into all spaces and developments (Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention, p.28) (By Design: Better Places to Live p.57) ( UDP, Policy DES10[iii])(Design and Crime SPD, Policy DC14).
Promote better use of open spaces and sports and recreational facilities, by the use of good design to reduce crime (PPG17, para 18[iii])
Place great importance on the speedy regeneration of derelict land as this can attract crime and anti-social behaviour (UDP, Policy DES10)(SPD Design and Crime, Policy DC5).
The environmental design principle of defensible space states that the environment should be clearly divided into defined areas which are either public, semi-private or private zones (UDP, Policy DES10[i]) (Design and Crime SPD, para 4.4).
All major development proposals should be accompanied by a Crime Prevention Plan which sets out how the development will achieve an appropriate standard of security (Design and Crime SPD, Policy DC1).
New residential developments should be mixed use with a range of facilities and housing types and tenures to create 24-hour surveillance (Design and Crime SPD, Policy DC6).
FEAR OF CRIME
A sustainable community can only be achieved if the fear of crime does not undermine quality of life or community cohesion (Securing the future – UK Government sustainable development strategy, p.184) (Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention, 2004: p.5; p.7. ) (Moving Forward: The Northern Way. First Growth Strategy Report, para 1.10) (RES p. 49) Reduce the fear of crime (Local Public Service Agreements, pg19) (PPS1, para 36)(Design and Crime SPD, para 2.1; para 4.1).
Improve personal safety and fear of crime whatever mode of transport is used (Personal Security Issues in Pedestrian Journeys, p.5) (PPG13, para 29,65(2), 73(6), 75(6) and 76(8)(Greater Manchester Local Transport Plan, para 2.16).
Minimise the impact and fear of crime on the economy (RES NW pg 47)
PRISONS (Also see Sustainable Communities)
PPG12 identifies the need for local planning authorities to make provision for community facilities. Although not specifically mentioned, the need for prisons is one such requirement that should be identified through the planning system (Circular 3/98 para.1)
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) have identified a potential need for future development of prisons and other penal establishments in the region. The identification of locations for these should be identified in accordance with guidance in Circular 3/98 (RSS para 7.3)
The need for potential locations for new prison development should be identified through the planning system (Circular 3/98 para.2)
Proposals (for prisons) should appear in the plan when it is clear that the development will take place during the plan’s lifetime (Circular 3/98 para.7)
Local Planning authorities should recognise that prison proposals have specific design requirements which, for reasons of public security, cannot be compromised (Circular 3/98 para.12)
REFERENCES (CRIME)
Crime and Disorder Act, section 17 (1998).
AGMA (August 2009) Prosperity for all – the Greater Manchester Strategy
DETR / CABE (2000) By Design, Urban design in the planning system: towards better practice. London: DETR.
DETR (1999) Personal Security Issues in Pedestrian Journeys. May 1999. London: DETR.
DETR (1998) A New Deal for Transport: better for Everyone. London: DETR.
DTLR (2001) By Design: Better Places to live: A companion guide to PPG3. London: DTLR
Greater Manchester Local Transport Plan (2000)
GONW (2008) North West of England Plan – Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021
HM Treasury (2005) Local Public Service Agreements 2005 – 2008. London: HM Treasury
Making it happen, the Northern Way. February 2004.
Moving Forward: The Northern Way. First Growth Strategy Report. September 2004