Scunthorpe community hub receives Gold Award for security from Secured by Design

The Arc is part of Ongo’s £9 million regeneration for the Westcliff estate in Scunthorpe, which will see 41 new homes being built alongside the already completed large One Stop convenience store, pharmacy, three retail units and Arc community hub.

The Arc, which opened its doors on 21 May 2018 includes a café called The Arcafe, a Post Office, the Little Owls pre-school, enterprise and youth zones and meeting rooms for hire.

An SBD trained Designing Out Crime Officer worked with the developers, Ongo Homes Ltd, and construction company, GS Kelsey Construction, from the planning stages through to construction to incorporate SBD crime prevention techniques and security in the build.

The measures included the built environment, such as creating natural surveillance and limiting excessive through movement which can be used as escape routes or cut-trough’s, as well as the physical security of the building, with the installation of SBD accredited windows, doors, roof lights, fire doors and roller shutters. SBD accredited bollards and fencing were also included in the development.

Tracy Rokahr, Designing Out Crime officer for Humberside Police, said: “I was delighted to be asked to get involved in the development of the new Westcliff Community Hub.

“The principle behind Designing Out Crime is to use architecture to address any security issues and minimise opportunities for offenders, to enhance the quality of life for those living and working in the area.

“The Secured by Design award is given to developers who adhere to police recommendations, which have been proved to reduce the risk of burglary and criminal damage by at least 75%.

“I was brought in from the pre-planning application stage to assess the architect’s plans and advise them of any designing out crime features that could be incorporated into the development, before submitting to the local planning authority, including ensuring that there were appropriate security measures in place - such as roller shutters, bollards and fencing around the building itself and PAS 24 windows and doors, which are SBD standard.

“This area previously suffered considerably from anti-social behaviour, burglary, criminal damage, motor vehicle crime, drug offences, violence and arson. It’s been very reassuring that Ongo Homes Ltd and GS Kelsey were so willing to work alongside me to make this development safe and secure, whilst maintaining the Secured by Design standard throughout the build. It will make a real difference to the whole community.

“From start to finish it has taken three years and it’s a fantastic facility for the community. I’ve really enjoyed working with the team and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their help and support.”

Martin Phillips, Development Manager, Regeneration Department, Ongo Homes Ltd; said; “Ongo are delighted that ‘the arc’ at Westcliff has been awarded one of the few Secured by Design Awards for commercial buildings.

“This community building is the culmination of many years consultation and planning with local residents to deliver a facility that will help improve life chances for people in the area. It was important for Ongo to achieve a building of this standard to ensure that our investment is secured, so that residents are sure that the facility will be available for them now and into the future.

“We must give thanks to our design and construction team in delivering the standard, and we look forward to continue to work in partnership with Humberside Police to help in designing out crime on our estates to make them truly vibrant communities.”

A spokesperson for GS Kelsey Construction commented: “GS Kelsey Construction continually invest in the communities in which we work and in doing so we have been a contributor to prosperity of Humberside and Lincolnshire.

“It was particularly pleasing to work with Ongo on this project in Westcliff as they’re an organisation that share our beliefs about safeguarding communities and investing in them to bring about social value benefits. This is signified by their requirements for Secured by Design standards in all that they do.

“By spending money on good design and security they have improved the longevity of the building and ensured the services offered there will not be disrupted by crime and disorder.”

Inspector Paul French, Community Policing Team for the area, said: “I believe this is an excellent demonstration of the commitment of both Ongo Homes and North Lincolnshire Council to improving safety and the wellbeing of this community.

“It’s great to see the real pride that Westcliff residents have in their community – including this new development – and our Brumby policing team is very much part of that. We have strong, well established links with a range of organisations and community in the area and, together, we’re continuing to work hard to make the community feel safer and stronger.

“We’re looking forward to building on this and further reassuring the community that we are there when we need them and we’re committed to identifying the people who commit crime and bringing them to justice.

“The Arc will provide an excellent location where the community can come together, as well as access to a wide range of help and support.”

Secured by Design: Secured by Design, the national police crime prevention initiative, aim to achieve sustainable reductions in crime through design and other approaches to enable people to live in a safer society.

We work in partnership with National and Local Government, British and European standards authorities, trade associations, the construction industry, manufacturers and many other organisations to reduce crime and the fear of crime by incorporating proven crime prevention techniques into the built environment.

We have more than 200 SBD trained police officers and staff in Police Forces around the UK. These Designing Out Crime Officers work with architects, developers and local authority planners to build in tried, tested and proven crime prevention techniques at the planning stage to reduce crime and keep communities safe.

SBD seeks to reduce crime by combining minimum standards of physical security like doors, windows and locks that achieve SBD’s Police Preferred Specification standard and proven design principles of the built environment such as natural surveillance and defensible space.

Whilst police are unable to recommend specific products, SBD can act as an effective gatekeeper and signposting service to our 650+ member companies and their products, which meet our rigorous Police Preferred Specification standards.

Members’ products range from secure and robust doors, windows and locks through to cutting-edge IT products, CCTV components, and shutters and barriers. SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police accreditation for security products in the UK.

SBD developments include such iconic sites as the 2012 London Olympics, Wembley Stadium and the Welsh and Scottish Assembly buildings.

Tel: 0203 8623 999
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Web: www.securedbydesign.com
Video: https://youtu.be/jZ7oeAQcHmc