Introduction
In recent years, Leeds has become one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. Substantial investment has helped to support a wide variety of vibrant shopping, leisure and entertainment businesses.
The life of the city runs both throughout the day and increasingly, into the evening hours as the City Council's pioneering 24 hour city initiative attracts more people into the city and town centres after dark.
The City Council is proud of all that has been achieved and is determined to continue this expansion and steady flow of inward investment by making sure the city centre and town centres are safe, inviting and attractive at all times to all-comers.
Security is a key part of those plans.
Leedswatch
The Council's state-of-the-art closed circuit TV system installed to protect the main shopping areas and car parks in the centre - has already helped reduce city centre crime. (A new city centre foot patrol is adding an extra dimension, providing a highly visible presence on the city's streets). Building on this success the CCTV initiative is now being extended to cover city centre car parks and the riverside. Over time it will be introduced into other centres. Major car park refurbishments, together with comprehensive street lighting improvements are also helping to give people added confidence to use the city centre after dark.
Cafe culture
Relaxing licensing restrictions and encouraging cafe culture has helped too, transforming Leeds into one of the most eagerly sought after leisure night-spots in the country. At the heart of the City Council's thinking is the desire to keep the city centre and other centres, particularly the shopping areas, attractive after the shops have closed, as well as during normal shopping hours. To expand the appeal of for example, the city centre and increase the leisure uses of the area outside normal shop hours means balancing the draw of its many attractions with the need to satisfy people's concerns about personal safety and security.
After dark
This balancing act is one in which city centre and town retailers have an important role to play. As commercial ventures they obviously have concerns about security, particularly after dark when their premises are closed and more vulnerable to thieves and vandals. As the city centre becomes more attractive and busier during the evening hours, the centre will become self policing.
Security
The purpose of this guide is therefore to assist shopkeepers and the like by helping them where necessary to make their premises secure but without damaging the "safe, inviting and attractive" atmosphere the Council wants for the city and other centres. Below people who run businesses can find helpful information on the different security options available and planning guidelines.
Security options
Security glass
Laminated glass, toughened glass and architectural perspex are all acceptable in unlisted buildings and will not require planning permission unless for example, the size and position of the glazing bars are changed.
For listed buildings, check with Planning Department to see if listed building consent is required.
Mullions
These are vertical supports used to sub-divide some shopfronts. They help to reinforce the glass and reduce cost of replacing broken glass. The are almost always acceptable in unlisted buildings subject to consideration of design and materials. They always require planning permission and further listed building consent if the building is listed.
Stallrisers
Reinforced solid panels below the shop window, designed to resist would-be-ram-raids. Almost always acceptable but careful attention should be given to design and material. Always will require planning permission and further listed building consent if the building is listed.
Alarms, sensors and CCTV
Installation of a standard size alarm box will not require planning permission. Listed building consent will be required if the building is listed.
Sensors to the windows can be linked to an alarm or a CCTV camera and are unlikely to require planning permission or listed building consent if the building is listed. CCTV cameras may need planning permission and will always need listed building consent.
Street furniture on private forecourts
Planters and bollards can act as a deterrent to would be ram raiders. Their acceptability depends upon their appearance and impact on the local surroundings. With a parade of shops a co-ordinated approach, for example, would be desirable. Planning permission may be required and individual proposals should be checked with the Planning Department.
Railings, bars and gates
Often used to secure secondary means of access and may be acceptable internally or externally in areas where the public have limited access. Will require planning permission and also listed building consent if the building is listed.
Bollards in a public footpath
The erection of bollards in the public footpath immediately in front of a shop would require the consent of the Department of Highways and Transportation and would only be granted in exceptional circumstances where the shopkeeper can demonstrate it would not cause an obstruction to the public and there are no other feasible security options.
A combination of the above
It may be possible to combine several of the above security options to provide effective security in a visually acceptable manner. The Local Police Crime Prevention Officer may be able to assist with advice on the security aspects.
Internal grilles:
"Open" type roller grilles, fitted unobtrusively behind the glass to the shopfront, are acceptable in unlisted buildings and will not require planning permission. The benefit of this type of shutter is it allows for surveillance by passers-by.
For listed buildings, internally fitted grilles and shutters will require listed building consent. In listed buildings the open type of roller grille is the most appropriate. Care should be taken in the siting of grille housing and guides, further advice is available from the Planning Department.
Where it is demonstrated that a shop/building is in an exceptionally high risk area open grilles infilled with polycarbonate inserts may be acceptable.
External grilles:
Open type roller grilles and detachable grilles are more obtrusive. In conservation areas, prime shopping areas and in cases of listed buildings, external grilles over the entire shopfront are unlikely to be acceptable, although exceptions may be made for doorways in particularly vulnerable areas. Elsewhere, they will be considered where accompanied with shutter box housings which must always be internal or be incorporated entirely behind the fascia of the shopfronts. All external grilles will require planning permission.
Where it is demonstrated that a shop/building is in an exceptionally high risk area open grilles infilled with polycarbonate inserts may be acceptable.
External roller shutters:
The blank, unappealing appearance of solid, perforated and punched lathe roller shutters and solid demountable panels detract from the general appearance of the immediate environment as the photographs illustrate. Acceptable only in exceptional circumstances, never on listed buildings and only with planning permission. Where perforated or punch lathe roller shutters are approved, lighting of the premises, during the times that the shutters are lowered, will be required.
Use of colour:
Colour can be important and durable finishes such as powder coating or plastic coated metal or anodised aluminium of a colour in keeping with the shopfront/building are all acceptable. Avoid using satin or silver anodised aluminium and do not paint galvanised steel because it damages easily. Bare galvanised steel or mill finish aluminium are not recommended because they have an unattractive, garish appearance.
Guidance on exceptional circumstances
The following criteria will be taken into account in assessing whether exceptional circumstances exist in any individual case.
Whether the shop/building is in a non-sensitive area
This will apply where the site is not :-
- within a recognised shopping centre as defined by the City Council's Unitary Development Plan
- a listed building and/or within a Conservation Area and/or
- in a small local shopping centre located within a residential setting.
Whether a shop/building is in an exceptionally high risk area
This is identified through considering :- evidence submitted with respect to a previous claims history to insurers.
- the independent views of the police arising from consultation by the Planning Department.
- whether the types of goods sold by the shop are attractive to thieves, e.g. electrical goods, jewellery, tobacco etc.
- Whether there is evidence from insurers that certain types of shutter would not be acceptable for insurance purposes
This will be considered, taking into account :-
- Any statements of support from the police
- No other forms of security (for example CCTV) are feasible
- Details of other security measures installed at the premises.
- Where exceptional circumstances are demonstrated punched lathe, perforated or solid shutters using a hidden box and powder coating may be acceptable.