Clements Court Wins Large Development Award at the ATLAS Secured by Design Award

Built between 1936 and 1979, Clements Court had become associated with anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime due to poor natural surveillance, isolated no-go areas and its location next to a large industrial area. The challenges culminated in a fatal stabling in 2020.

Clements Court, Green Lane, photo credit Miles Glendinning, Tower Blocks UK

As part of Hounslow Council’s Infill Sites Programme, Clements Court was one of several developments in the borough which aims to deliver 2,500 homes for council rent by 2030. Single-storey garages were demolished to make way for four new residential buildings providing 48 affordable homes, 122 parking spaces, two communal areas and play spaces, and secure cycle storage for 261 bicycles.

Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO), Matt Scales from the Metropolitan Police, became involved from the early stages, as achieving Secured by Design (SBD) certification formed part of the planning requirements. However, it was his also first-hand operational knowledge that helped shaped the development.

Working closely with Hounslow Council, Hunters Architecture & Building Consultancy and developers Wates Residential, Matt drew on his experience policing the area to provide valuable insight into local crime patterns and data to demonstrate how increased investment in security would deliver long-term benefits for both residents and the wider estate.

Security was embedded throughout the development, including an enhanced CCTV system, strategically positioned to cover key locations, along with improved natural surveillance through ‘active rooms’ which overlooked amenity spaces and children’s play areas. Beyond the original planning requirements, the DOCO influenced the design and positioning of the cycle storage which had previously been associated with ASB and misuse and recommended secure access-controlled entrances, Secured by Design post boxes and upgraded communal doors to meet higher attack standards such as STS 202, LPS 2081 and LPS 1775.

Today, Clement’s Court represents more than just new modern residential buildings. Landscaped communal gardens, secure play areas and public spaces have helped create an environment designed around safety, accessibility and positive community use.

Since completion there has been no recorded crime or reported incidents of ASB. The benefits have extended beyond the residents of the new buildings, helping to create a safer, more welcoming environment across the wider estate.

Designing Out Crime Officer, Matt Scales, said: “This project is a strong example of how early collaboration between policing, the local authority and development partners can genuinely transform a previously challenged environment. Working with Hounslow Council, Wates Residential and Hunters, we’ve embedded security into the design to create a place that actively discourages crime while supporting positive community use. The results speak for themselves.”

Lee Bushell, Regional Managing Director at Wates Residential, said: “Clements Court shows working in close partnership can truly help us reimagine places for people to thrive. Working alongside Hounslow Council and local policing teams, we’ve embedded safety and thoughtful design from the outset to create homes where residents feel secure and proud to live. It’s hugely rewarding to see the positive impact extend beyond the new homes and into the wider community.”

Councillor Tom Bruce, Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development said: “Clements Court is a powerful example of how thoughtful regeneration can transform not just buildings, but the lives of the people who live there. This project reflects our commitment to delivering genuinely affordable homes, while ensuring that new developments are designed with community wellbeing in mind. We have turned a previously challenging environment into a place where residents feel safe, connected and proud of their neighbourhood.” 

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What is Secured by Design?

Secured by Design (SBD) is the official police security initiative that works to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings to provide safe places to live, work, shop and visit.

SBD’s product based accreditation scheme – the Police Preferred Specification - provides a recognised standard for all security products that can deter and reduce crime.

There are currently many hundreds of companies producing thousands of attack resistant crime prevention products, across 30 different crime categories, which have achieved Police Preferred Specification.

Improved security

Developers around the UK can achieve SBD awards for incorporating crime prevention measures and techniques into their developments in all kinds of building sectors, such as residential, education, health, transport, commercial, retail, sport and leisure. Indeed, SBD can be used as evidence to discharge third-party obligations under Part Q of Schedule 1 (Security) to the English Building Regulations, the Scottish Building Standard 4.13 (Security) and Welsh Building Regulations Part Q (Security – Dwellings). These awards are gained by working with police Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs), who advise architects, developers and local authority planners long before construction begins – and continue to provide advice and guidance until the development is complete.

Academic and other research shows that improving standards of security in brand new and refurbished properties, helps deter and reduce crime. Reducing crime and the fear of crime has direct links to better physical and mental well-being, such as with regard to high volume crimes like domestic abuse.   

The built environment influences the behaviour of people who work, live, socialise or simply pass through. SBD seeks to create environments where the law-abiding feel safe and secure whilst at the same time causing the criminal or anti-social to feel vulnerable to detection and thereby influence behaviour in a positive way. This continues to be a key objective for SBD.

Find out more about SBD Developers Awards here.

SBD Design Guides

SBD has produced a series of Design Guides to assist the building, design and construction industry to incorporate security into developments to comply with the Building Regulations in England, Scotland and Wales and meet the requirements of SBD.

These Design Guides, available to download for free at the SBD website, have been updated over the years to keep pace with changing patterns of criminal behaviour and advances in building design and new technology.

They are a valuable source of reference to architects, developers, self-builders, local authority planners and police officers and cover a range of building sectors, including residential, education, health, transport and commercial. 

Police Designing Out Crime Officers

DOCOs provide specialist crime reduction advice to the public, businesses and colleagues about premises or property security. They also work with building developers, architects, and council planning departments regarding new developments and refurbishments, to 'design out' crimes like burglary and anti-social behaviour (ASB) by providing advice on street lighting, building and street layout, entrances and exits - as well as preferred standards and specifications for doors, windows, and locks, under the Secured by Design initiative. 

DOCOs are able to deliver site specific interventions required to help design out crime in areas that suffer disproportionately from acquisitive crime, based on local crime pattern analysis, police, local authority and community engagement and the collective knowledge and experience of how criminals behave.

DOCOs are specialist problem solvers, working every day to make a positive difference, changing lives for the better and helping people to be safe and secure in their homes.

Contact details for local DOCOs can be found here.