DESIGNING SAFE RESIDENTIAL AREAS 147
investigate how products, environments and communications may be designed against crime (Davey et al., 2002a). As part of our research, three aspects of city living connected with the 24-hour city and crime were investigated in detail using literature reviews and case studies: retail services, the latenight economy, and residential areas in or near city centres. This chapter focuses on residential areas, examining how crime prevention was considered within Hulme, near to Manchester city centre. Following this, Chapter 9 discusses the findings from an assessment of crime and the built environment in the London borough of Brent. Hulme and its regeneration were chosen as a case study because the area is held up as a best-practice exemplar for New Urbanism – along with Poundbury in Dorchester (Schneider & Kitchen, 2002). Hulme is also of interest because, before its redevelopment in the 1990s, it comprised awardwinning buildings of the 1960s – ‘The Crescents’ – and was distinctive for its multi-storey deck-access dwellings and tower blocks. Unfortunately, by the 1980s and early 1990s problems included poor heating, pest infestation, child safety issues, high crime, and poor mental health amongst the residents (Manchester City Council, 1992; Hulme Regeneration Limited, 1994). Data on Hulme were collected from the following sources: • crime statistics from Greater Manchester Police • two site visits – one at the beginning of 2004 with a team of police architectural liaison officers, planners and architects, and another in 2005 with a team of researchers • nine in-depth interviews with residents, community centre employees, three local authority officers and a police officer • a review of websites and e-groups set up by local residents (e.g. www.hulmeresidentsmanchester.co.uk)
• a review of published literature – strategy and consultation documents on Hulme and its development (Hulme Regeneration Limited, 1994, 1996; North British Housing Association Hulme Team, 1994; Symes, 1998; McLoughlin, 1999; Manchester City Council, 2002, 2003, 2004;); local newspapers – Manchester Evening News; community newsletters – e.g. Hulme Matters and Moss Side and Hulme News (Moss Side and Hulme Partnership and Manchester City Council, 1998); free newsletters produced by the local residents; and reviews and evaluations of Hulme (Ramwell and Saltburn, 1998; SURF, 1999, 2002). Integrating crime prevention into design activities: Hulme regeneration To help examine the ways in which crime prevention should be integrated within design and development activities, the authors draw on the Design Against Crime evaluation framework developed by Wootton & Davey (2005). This identifies four main phases of activity within which crime and antisocial behaviour may be addressed: • project set-up • project development • use and performance • learning and business strategy.