Belfast development wins SBD development award

The historic building was converted into 77 properties, split across 55 apartments and 22 duplex apartments with 68 parking spaces and cycle storage, and subsequently received the Secured by Design Gold Award.

In 2019, work began to transform the building into residential dwellings. Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) Designing Out Crime Unit were extensively involved in the build process, with full SBD recommendations incorporated from the outset.

To ensure the development included safety and security considerations suitable for residential use, a number of changes were proposed by the Designing Out Crime Team. Increased lighting within the build was agreed, and a monitored security surveillance system was installed, along with permanent security staff on site. Internal doors and security features were added to improve compartmentation, and perimeter fencing was upgraded to reduce permeability and improve access control.

The redevelopment of the historic structure meant unique difficulties for the developers, with construction changes using existing features to maximise security without impacting on the historic nature of the building. Internally, the building has now been transformed into modern apartments, while the original exterior stonework has been preserved. Access from a major road was considered a challenge and so improved road markings, signage and lighting were introduced as a proportionate solution.

The development is located within a ‘hot spot’ for crime and anti-social behaviour, close to a fixed barrier which has separated communities for 40 years. The Designing Out Crime Team were also involved in designing the newly introduced interface – automated gates, abutting the development site, which was factored in to the design of the development.

The PSNI Designing Out Crime Team were engaged in regular consultation with the Department of Justice Interface Team, local community groups, councillors and representatives regarding the interface, and additional no-parking features and reduced potential climbing points were built into the design. The team were also involved in encouraging a full clean-up of the surrounding area, factored in as part of the Broken Windows Theory.

Receiving the award, PSNI Senior Designing Out Crime Officer said: “This was a challenging project due to the restrictions within the development; however, proactive engagement with the developer was key to the success. We are really pleased to receive this award on behalf of the team and partners.”

PSNI Strategic Lead for Crime Prevention and Designing Out Crime added: “The complexity of two separate design projects interlinked created additional challenges. The use of mitigations, common sense and cost-effective design features provided an opportunity for effective solution designs. We welcome this award from SBD as a showcase of the design teamwork within Northern Ireland.”

What is Secured by Design?

Secured by Design (SBD) is the official police security initiative that works to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings to provide safe places to live, work, shop and visit.

SBD’s product based accreditation scheme – the Police Preferred Specification - provides a recognised standard for all security products that can deter and reduce crime.

There are currently many hundreds of companies producing thousands of attack resistant crime prevention products, across 30 different crime categories, which have achieved Police Preferred Specification.

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.

Contact details for local DOCOs can be found here.