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Supplementary Planning Guidance Note - Planning Out Crime
Advice About Planning Considerations Relating To Crime Prevention
2.0 Residential Development
3.0 Rear and Side Accesses and Alley Ways
4.0 Commercial Developments
4.5 Movement Sensitive Security Lighting
1.1 This Supplementary Planning Guidance note, which has been drawn up in conjunction with the Local Crime Prevention Officers, provides additional guidance to encourage those responsible for built development to adopt a positive and well thought out approach to planning out crime. It provides a guide to best practice in the design of any development. The advice is however not exhaustive and other appropriate solutions may be suitable in certain circumstances.
1.2 Wirral Borough Council considers the implementation of this guidance as paramount in response to Wirral’s Crime and Disorder Strategy and to DETR Circular 5/94 "Planning Out Crime".
1.3 The Supplementary Planning Guidance shall be read in conjunction with the Unitary Development Plan Policies related to the type of development proposed (see Annex A).
2.0 Residential Development
2.1.1 All new housing developments should be set out so that private rear gardens interlock with other rear gardens. The aim is that no access is permitted to these gardens from a publicly accessible area thereby providing both protection and privacy.
2.1.2 Houses/flats should be orientated so that there are windows to habitable rooms providing direct surveillance over public and semi-public areas. This is particularly important when the buildings are next to open public areas and car parks. It is important however that in achieving that objective the individual privacy of existing and future residents is not compromised.
2.1.3 The entrance to residential streets and in particular cul-de-sacs should be designed so that the siting of the houses at the entrance provides an entrance feature and thereby also creates a sense of semi-private space.
2.1.4 Bin stores or ancillary buildings need to be sited so that there are no dark recessed areas or areas which cannot be clearly viewed, in which people can hide or engage in anti-social behaviour.
2.1.5 In the design of any building it is important that care is taken not to provide a means of access into upper windows via flat roofed extensions/ancillary buildings. Any single storey element should ideally have a pitched roof or be designed to prevent it being climbed on to gain access to windows or other openings.
2.1.6 Car parking provision should be provided within the curtilage of the houses/flats. In Wirral the majority of car crime occurs where vehicles are parked on the road or in public car parks. Maximum security is provided when vehicles are kept in garages attached or next to the house, especially if there are windows in the side elevation of the house with a view over the garage. Any garage should be designed to comfortably accommodate the average size car, in order that it can serve its function.
2.1.7 It is important that all car-parking areas are visible to the occupiers of the houses/flats, the general public who pass the site and to other property which overlooks the parking area. Communal car parking areas should not normally be sited to the rear of buildings as they are out of sight. Rear car parks which are secure by the provision of remote controlled gates may be acceptable.
2.1.8 If pedestrian access to rear gardens must be provided along separate access ways, these should be provided with lockable gates at the entrance to the road. The locks to these gates should be positioned at a level to enable people in wheelchairs to use them. All public areas should be well lit with appropriate lighting.
2.1.9 Further guidance in relation to the conversion of buildings into self-contained flats is given in Supplementary Planning Guidance Note 13 and for Sheltered Housing and Residential Care Homes in Supplementary Planning Guidance Note 9.
2.2 Boundary Treatment
2.2.1 Boundary treatment between a public area, a road, or public open space and a private rear and side garden, should include a suitably designed brick wall of at least 1.8m in height. This provides privacy but more importantly a robust structure which can not be kicked or pushed down. In conjunction with this, defensible planting may be used to create a buffer between the publicly accessible area and the wall. Particularly vulnerable areas should be provided with an additional height deterrent, such as a trellis on top of the brick wall. A list of appropriate plant species is given in Annex B. Further advice on landscaping within new developments is given in Supplementary Planning Guidance Note 17.
2.2.2 Along the front boundary of new housing schemes an appropriate boundary treatment is required, to clearly define and separate the public and private areas. This should comprise a low wall or railings although in suburban settings where open plan development is deemed appropriate, this may be shrub planting. In either case this should allow a clear view into the front garden/car parking area in front of the property to provide additional surveillance from the residential properties opposite and from passing members of the public.
2.2.3 The use of razor wire or barbed wire is inappropriate for a residential development or for other uses such as shops in a residential area. These are visually inappropriate for such a setting, and give a poor impression of the area.
2.2.4 The use of palisade fencing is also inappropriate for a residential development. The use of palisade fencing as a boundary treatment for non-residential developments in residential areas is usually inappropriate, however in certain circumstances it may be considered acceptable depending on the development, its location and the design of the fencing (i.e. the tops to the fencing must not be of the "spike" variety).
2.3.1 The siting of public open spaces and children's play areas as part of any development needs to be considered as an integral part of the proposed layout. Any open space to which the public will have access should be located so that there are houses directly overlooking it to provide surveillance. The houses should be sited so that the whole of the public area is overlooked, to deter any individual or group from causing nuisance or damage. The planting scheme for these areas, through a careful use of species and a consideration of the character of the location, should not provide an opportunity for people to be able to hide or be able to congregate without being clearly seen.
2.3.2 Access routes, and in particular pedestrian/cycle only routes, should also be overlooked by the adjacent houses to provide surveillance. The houses should be positioned and orientated so that they create a footpath/highway which is wide enough so as not to be too confined and intimidating and which has no dark corners or bends behind which people could hide.
3.0 Rear and Side Accesses and Alley Ways
3.1.1 In parts of Wirral, access is gained to the rear of terraced housing via alleys (also referred to as entries). Today these alleys provide a place to leave refuse bins on collection days as well as being used to gain access to the rear yards of the properties. These alleys can also provide routes for potential burglars. Due to the high rear boundary walls the alleys are not properly overlooked. The use of lockable gates at the access points to these alleyways is a means by which those entering the alleys can be restricted. The Safer Merseyside Partnership "Alleygating" Initiative is supported by the Planning Authority. Any new gates should be approximately 2m in height. The gates should be designed so that they cannot be climbed over and have no supports or bars etc that can be used as a foot/hand hold for any intruder to gain a leverage to climb over the gates. Alleygates may require planning permission to be obtained, it is recommended that their siting and appearance is discussed with this Department prior to their erection.
3.1.2 New housing schemes will now not usually be considered acceptable if they are designed with long alleyways serving the rear of houses. If a separate pedestrian access to rear gardens must be provided along separate access ways these should be fitted with lockable gates. The locks to these gates should be positioned at a level to enable people in wheelchairs to be able to use them.
4.0 Commercial Developments
4.1.1 Buildings should be orientated so that the main activity ie the retail frontage or office frontage faces onto the road where public enter the site. This provides surveillance for everyone entering and exiting the site. Blank and solid elevations fronting road frontages should be avoided.
4.1.2 The main delivery areas will usually be positioned at the rear of the development in order to ensure an acceptable development. The vehicular access should be gated or provide some security measures to ensure that access cannot be gained by unauthorised people.
4.2.1 The main parking areas should be provided so that there is suitable natural surveillance. This can be achieved by ensuring that all the associated planting is at low level (except for trees) and does not obscure views across the car park. There should also be no walls or dividing fences above 1m within the car parking area in order that surveillance across the parking area is not hindered. Higher walls may be appropriate at the boundary of the site to reduce the number of exits for both vehicles and pedestrians.
4.2.2 The use of lighting and CCTV cameras to cover large car parking areas also assists in deterring potential criminal activity. Details of any CCTV cameras/lighting must be submitted as part of any planning application. The effectiveness of any CCTV system is dependent upon the management and supervision of that system and as such this Authority encourages liaison with the local Crime Prevention Officer for that particular area.
4.2.3 For proposals for car parks of 20 or more spaces it would be advantageous to contact the regional co-ordinator for "Secure Car Parks", who can be contacted through the Local Crime Prevention Officer.
4.3.1 Site security is an important aspect of any commercial activity. Boundary treatment should comprise a brick wall, railings and where appropriate (in industrial areas) palisade fencing, finished with an appropriate colour.
4.3.2 In conjunction with any boundary treatment defensible planting should be used to create a buffer between the publicly accessible area and the boundary. A list of appropriate planting species is listed in Annex B.
4.3.3 Whilst razor wire and barbed wire may be necessary for some industrial developments its use should be carefully considered and used to protect only the most vulnerable areas.
4.4.1 Roller shutters are a highly visible and cost effective means of securing commercial premises, particularly as a means of security to shop windows. If external shutters are used it is essential that they are housed internally so as not to protrude from the shop front. They should also be coloured and of a "see through" or "perforated" style. Under no circumstances should shutters to retail premises be left in a raw, galvanised condition, or have prominent projecting shutter boxes. In sensitive locations such as in Conservation Areas internal lattice grills or laminated glass are more appropriate than shutters.
4.4.2 Solid shutters are considered unacceptable as they create a dead frontage at night and create a negative visual impression of the area. Solid shutters are also susceptible to graffiti. This can reinforce a negative impression of an area. Perforated shutters allow light from within the retail units to disperse onto the street creating additional illumination. Perforated shutters also allow views into the unit. This creates the opportunity for passers by to window shop, thereby creating activity within the street scene, as well as providing additional surveillance into the unit itself.
4.4.3 Further advice on the design of new shop fronts is given in Supplementary Planning Guidance Note 43.
4.4.4 In industrial areas solid shutters should be painted/powder coated. This could be in the corporate colours or to match the building.
4.5 Movement Sensitive Security Lighting
4.5.1 Movement sensitive lighting can improve security and surveillance to buildings as well as improving safety for building users and passers by. Lighting should be provided to prevent dark corners. The lights should be movement sensitive to reduce the visual impact of the glare and light emissions. Careful attention should be paid to prevent glare and light spillage onto adjoining occupiers and roads. Details of any external lighting scheme should be submitted as part of a planning application.
CONTACTS
Local Crime Prevention Officers
Wallasey/West Kirby Area - PC Ian Wilson - 0151 777 2058
Birkenhead Area - PC Dave Owens - 0151 777 2258
Bromborough/Heswall Area - PC Dave Craig - 0151 777 2558
Annex A
Most Relevant Unitary Development Plan Policies
- HS4 (v) Criteria for New Housing Development
- HS13 Self Contained Flat Conversions
- HS14 Houses in Multiple Occupation
- HS15 Non Residential Uses in Primarily Residential Areas
- GR5 Landscaping and New Development
- GR6 Greenspace within New Family Housing Development
- RE1 Criteria for Urban Recreation Facilities
- RE10 Criteria for Community Centres and Facilities
- RE11 Criteria for Children's Play Facilitie
- TL2 Criteria for Urban Tourism
- SH1 Criteria for Development in Key Town Centres
- SH2 Criteria for Development in Traditional Suburban Centres
- SH4 Small Shopping Centres and Parades
- SH6 Development within Primarily Commercial areas
- SH7 Upper Floor Uses in Retail Premises
- SH8 Criteria for Shop Fronts
- SH10 Design and Location of Out-of-Centre and Edge-of-Centre Retail Development
- SH12 Amusement Centres
Annex B
The following is a list of plant species which are considered as suitable for defensible planting:
- Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
- Hawthorn (Crataegus spp)
- Barberry (Berberis Julanae)
- Firethorn (Pyracantha spp)
- Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
- Rose (Rosa rugosa)(Rosa canina)