16.2.1.4 Design for a Safer Environment

Design for a Safer Environment

The relationship between buildings and their adjoining spaces strongly influences the sense of personal safety. Attractive environments can provide many of the elements that make places feel safe. New development should incorporate active frontages to ensure natural surveillance and large areas of blank walls in street façades should be avoided, as they reduce the potential for surveillance. Good design also encourages enclosure of space by development to avoid recessed areas and to clearly define private and public areas, creating a sense of ownership and responsibility for every part of the development.

These issues should be addressed early in the design of new development and spaces or the refurbishment of existing buildings. This will avoid the need for later retrofitting, which can impact adversely on the architectural quality of the development and the character of the townscape, as well as being significantly more costly.

Design guidelines for Safety and Security are set out in Appendix 14.