A development of new homes in Mayfield, Dalkeith has gained the highest award given by Secured by Design (SBD), the national police crime prevention initiative, for incorporating crime prevention techniques into the layout and landscaping and the physical security of buildings.

The SBD Gold Award was presented to Melville Housing Association for their development at Oak Place, Mayfield near Dalkeith.

An SBD trained Architectural Liaison Officer worked with the design team and contractor Lovell Partnerships, from the planning stages through to construction to incorporate SBD crime prevention techniques and security.

These measures included the built environment, such as creating natural surveillance from the properties over parking areas and access routes, through to the doors, windows and locks which meet Police Preferred Specification standards. These measures combine to make the properties more robust and less attractive to opportunist criminals.

Independent academic research shows that SBD developments that have been designed to ‘design out crime’ and include crime prevention techniques in the built environment and accredited products can reduce crimes like burglary by up to 75% in new build homes and up to 63% in refurbishments. Evidence suggests these figures are sustainable year-on-year and represent a significant reduction especially as most SBD developments are in social housing in deprived areas.

Stuart Ward, Police Scotland National Designing Out Crime Manager, explained: “These properties designed to SBD specifications offer a higher standard of security compared to most residential properties. Combined with our crime prevention measures into the overall layout of the homes, the site will reduce significantly the risk of crime and anti-social behaviour.”

Stuart added: “The inclusion of SBD measures at the design stage by Police, architects and developers ensures an improved level of security for properties before they are built. SBD is the only long term crime reduction initiative which can impact on reducing opportunist crime through the lifetime of a building.”

Superintendent Alan Carson Lothians and Scottish Borders Division of Police Scotland who presented the SBD accreditation, said: “I am delighted to be presenting this award which recognises the measures included by the architects and developers from the early design stages to ensure the long-term security and safety for residents of these properties.

Superintendent Carson continued: “These measures have benefits for the wider community because Police will be far less likely to have to investigate property crime in these dwellings, which reduces the demand on Police and associated services. I commend all the project members from Melville Housing Association and Lovell Partnerships for their support and adherence to this UK national police crime prevention initiative.”

“We are delighted to receive this prestigious award which gives us confidence in the security of our new properties," said Rich Murdoch, Melville's Head of Asset Management. "The design of the development is contemporary while retaining local character. It fits nicely into the surrounding area.

“We are happy the design has been able to accommodate the security recommendations without affecting the architectural style of these homes. We extend our gratitude to the design team and contractors at Lovells for delivering these high quality homes for rent in this area."