Ruislip development secures Small Development Award

A six-home scheme in the London Borough of Hillingdon has been recognised with a Small Development Award at this year’s Secured by Design (SBD) ATLAS event.

Located on Elm Avenue, Ruislip, the development, which achieved SBD Gold accreditation in April 2024, comprises six residential properties, each with a dedicated parking space and secure cycle storage.

Small-scale housing schemes

The development is said to exemplify how small-scale housing schemes can successfully incorporate SBD principles from the earliest stages to completion, creating a secure and attractive environment.

The project reportedly benefitted from early and consistent collaboration with Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO) Robert Palin of the Metropolitan Police.

The developer, already experienced with SBD requirements through previous schemes in the area and a standing SBD planning condition agreement between Hillingdon Council and the North West London DOCO team, worked closely with Robert over a two-year period. 

Security-led design changes

The project reportedly saw several important refinements as a result of SBD input:

• Postal security: The postal strategy was addressed through discussions with the DOCO, resulting in the adoption of external mailboxes from DAD, compliant with updated TS 009 standards. This avoided the need for postal workers to enter the building while maintaining a clean, secure design
  
• Cycle storage: Plans for open Sheffield stands in the communal garden were revised, with the developer installing an SBD-approved steel cycle enclosure supplied by Asgard, ensuring secure storage for residents
  
• Access control: The originally-proposed ‘meet and greet’ entry was reconsidered in favour of a more secure intercom system, enhancing access management without compromising usability
  
• Defensive planting: Pyracantha shrubs were installed beneath ground floor windows. This defensive planting, in communal and public-facing areas, acts as both a visual deterrent and physical barrier
  
• Lighting: An appropriate lighting scheme was agreed to further support surveillance and safety across the site’s extended perimeter

“Small-site excellence”

The site’s location on a corner plot, with a sloped gradient and extended boundaries exposed to the public realm, presented inherent security challenges.

However, the developer reportedly employed every relevant SBD recommendation to create a defensible, secure scheme.

SBD has articulated that, in a borough where burglary levels are above the national average, the success of this development is noteworthy.

In a follow up by the DOCO, no police calls or recorded incidents were linked to the site between April-December 2024, highlighting its performance in deterring crime.

Palin said: “This development shows what can be achieved when developers embrace SBD principles.

“The applicant went above and beyond, installing steel security doors from Lathams – far exceeding minimum requirements – and took a genuinely proactive approach throughout.

“I couldn’t fault the design if I tried. It stands as a textbook example of small-site excellence.”