Design Checklist
- The mixed use development promotes safety through design
- Residents and visitors perceive the development as safe
- The development contributes a sense of safety to the neighbouring public domain
Overview
The built environment within a mixed use development will not only influence users’ perceptions of safety and security, but will also create or reduce opportunities for crime and vandalism.
A well-designed development may make it unnecessary to implement organised (security guards & patrols) or mechanical (burglar alarms & closed circuit television) security measures. Furthermore, a development that feels safe will attract people to use it, which support any retail and commercial uses on the site.
The key principles of designing a safe and secure environment are:
- enabling the casual surveillance of communal/public areas from both public and private areas. (In other words, increasing opportunities for casual people watching)
- managing access to a development by providing safe entry, circulation and exit, and restricting entry to certain areas
- clearly defining site boundaries and encouraging a sense of community ownership
- ensuring the development is maintained to convey community care and attention