Hatfield’s One Town Centre development achieve Secured by Design Gold Awards

The developments are Fourways House, Corner House and Newtown House and the awards recognise the work that has been undertaken to incorporate crime prevention measures into the landscaping of the developments and the physical security of the buildings.

SBD is the official police security initiative that works to improve the security of buildings and their surrounding areas to enhance the safety of those living and working there. The aim of the initiative is to reduce crime through effective security measures integrated into building designs.  Each of the One Town Centre blocks underwent a thorough assessment by a Hertfordshire Police Designing out Crime Officer, examining security elements including:

• Reinforced doors and windows
• Advanced access control systems
• Strategic public space planning

These measures not only enhance safety for residents but also maintain the visual appeal for the community.

Building new social and affordable, high-quality homes is a priority for Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (WHBC).  One Town Centre has been developed by the Council and construction company, Lovell Partnerships, offering a mix of both private sales and units let at social rent which are owned and managed by the Council.    There are also retail units under construction and these will be let by the Council on completion.

Councillor Gemma Moore, Executive Member for Housing said: “The One Town Centre development is a wonderful addition to Hatfield Town Centre and I am delighted that the development has achieved a Gold standard rating for the security measures that have been incorporated into the buildings and surrounding areas.  I am sure that these measures will help make One Town Centre a safe place for people to live, work, shop and visit. Congratulations to WHBC officers and Lovell staff on being awarded an SBD Gold standard”.

Russell Lane, Operations Manager at Lovell, said: “I am proud that, working in partnership with WHBC, we have achieved an SBD Gold standard rating One Town Centre.  This recognition by SBD highlights our shared commitment to delivering safe and secure homes and is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved”.

Hertfordshire Police Designing Out Crime Officer Gerry Brophy said: “I was extremely impressed with the standard of work that had been undertaken to incorporate crime prevention measures at the One Town Centre development.  We had no hesitation in awarding a Gold standard to the development.  We look forward to working with WHBC and Lovell Partnership colleagues on future projects”.

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 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

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.

SBD’s Police Preferred Specification standard

SBD operates an accreditation scheme on behalf of the UK Police Service for products or services that have met recognised security standards. These products or services – which must be capable of deterring or preventing crime - are known as being of a ‘Police Preferred Specification’.

There are many hundreds of companies who produce over 7000 individual attack resistant crime prevention products in more than 30 different categories that have met the exacting Police Preferred Specification. This includes doors, windows, external storage, bicycle and motorcycle security, locks and hardware, asset marking, alarms, CCTV, safes, perimeter security products and many others.

SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for security-related products in the UK.