Waterbeach New Town Supplementary Planning Document

I am one of two Designing out Crime Officers, employed with Cambridgeshire Police. Our job involves working with architects, developers and the planning departments across Cambridgeshire using our expertise to 'design out crime' thus promoting community safety and reducing vulnerability to crime. I have read the proposed Waterbeach New Town Supplementary Planning Document and am happy to support its content. I would wish the following comment from our office to be recorded please:

Changes to English Planning and Building Control Regulations have underlined the importance of the Police advice delivered in the form of the Secured by Design (SBD) initiative. We seek to reinforce the need and importance of a safe and secure external environment. SBD incorporates the latest security standards, developed to address emerging criminal methods of attack, and includes references to both building regulations and other statutory requirements across the UK. The guidance also serves the legacy needs of the outgoing Code for Sustainable Homes. Based on sound research findings proves that SBD delivers a significant reduction in crime and cost efficiency savings for a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, housing associations, landlords, residents and the Police service.

Under the National Planning Practice Guidance the government has reiterated that designing out crime and designing in community safety should be central to the planning and delivery of new development. Local authorities are duty bound to adhere to Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and exercise their functions with due regard to their likely effect on crime and disorder. The prevention of crime and the enhancement of community safety are matters that a local authority should consider when exercising its planning functions under the Town and Country Planning legislation.

This office is happy to consult with developers to ensure that all plans for future development in Waterbeach New Town enhance the principles of Secured by Design fully and we are especially happy to work with them to encourage applications for Secured by Design accreditation in all new developments.