Hartlepool Housing Plans Approved Amidst Police Call to ‘Design Out Crime’

Law enforcement officials have encouraged property developers to incorporate crime prevention strategies, specifically to “design out crime,” prior to the construction of numerous residences. The South West Extension initiative in Hartlepool is slated to ultimately include the construction of 1,260 homes, a school, a medical facility, and a restaurant on a site situated between the A689 and Brierton Lane. During the current week, comprehensive proposals for the initial 316 properties within this significant development received approval from the planning committee of Hartlepool Borough Council. Prior to the committee session, Cleveland Police advised the developers, Persimmon, to integrate specific crime deterrence features, including but not limited to gated parking areas, a reduced number of access paths, and the substitution of copper piping with plastic alternatives. In the course of the consultation phase, Stephen Cranston, Cleveland Police’s designing out crime officer (DOCO), prompted Persimmon to mitigate the risk of anti-social and criminal conduct from the earliest feasible point. In correspondence advocating for the developers to pursue “Secured by Design” accreditation, he stated: “Once a development has been completed the main opportunity to design out crime has gone.” This program seeks to discourage offenders through the integration of “architectural crime prevention measures” into both new construction projects and renovation efforts. An initial hybrid application submitted by Persimmon for this development had previously received approval earlier in the current year. The most recent planning session, which the Local Democracy Reporting Service attended, concluded with the committee’s unanimous endorsement of a more comprehensive application, thereby permitting the commencement of construction for the first 316 properties. This approval followed requests to alter the suggested name for the new location to more accurately represent the historical background of the area. During the meeting, Alice Hall of Persimmon confirmed that issues regarding the name Greatham Meadows had been resolved, noting that the developers were collaborating with local historian and resident Robert Smith to devise a name that would more appropriately honor the site’s past. For updates, follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story suggestions can be sent to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.