Davey, C, Mackay, L and Wootton, AB 2009, 'Designing safe residential areas' , in: Designing Sustainable Cities , Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester (UK), pp. 139-162.

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Abstract

Community safety and crime reduction are now prime concerns for central and local government, and in achieving the goal of sustainable communities (ODPM, 2003), with crime and ‘fear of crime’ key performance indicators of sustainable development (DEFRA, 2008). Local authorities are also under increasing pressure to ensure that new developments are both secure and good for the environment. This means designing safe, interconnected (i.e. permeable) streets that encourage people to walk, cycle or take public transport, rather than take the car. However, design solutions seeking to embody the concept of permeability may undermine security a point fiercely debated by some police architectural liaison Environmental Design (CPTED) and architects and planners seeking to promote New Urbanism. This chapter asks how sustainable urban environments can be achieved without incurring actual or perceived increases in crime.

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