Nottingham City Homes, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, conducted a two-year impact study on the wider social benefits of the Decent Homes programme known in Nottingham as Secure, Warm, Modern. The first stage of the research was to conduct a pilot study on two estates, which aimed to evaluate the impact of installing secure windows and doors on burglary in NCH properties, and the impact on residents and surrounding communities. The work programme took place in 2008/09, during which 1,520 properties had their windows replaced out of a total of 1,717 NCH properties on the two estates.
Levels of crime, and particularly burglary, have in the past been high across Nottingham, and particular in the two estates chosen for the pilot. The area has seen higher burglary rates than the city average, and higher than similar areas within the city.
Key Findings
- Burglary was reduced by 42% across Bells Lane and Broxtowe, compared to a city wide reduction of 21% over the same period. This was also higher than the reduction seen in similar areas in the city, of 38%.
- NCH properties experienced 62 fewer burglaries per year after the work was completed, compared to 33 fewer burglaries a year to non- NCH properties on the estates
- Tenants perceived burglary to be less of an issue after the Secure work was completed and overall satisfaction with their neighbourhood as a place to live rose from 58% of tenants being fairly or very satisfied to 64% since the work was completed.
Outcome
To increase security further, a priority investment for any future resources that may be made available for further housing improvement should be the widespread replacement of the current wooden doors with Secured by Design PVC-u models.
