Healthy Place Making and the National Model Design Code: Securing Health

Our National Model Design Code series focuses on content within the National Model Design Code, specifically centring on its illustrations (all provided with thanks and credit to Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) and how such design has the potential to influence the development of healthy places.

This item’s illustration for review:

People’s feeling of security – both within the home and outside of it – are influenced by design. Design decisions should therefore consider how to improve both the feeling and the reality of people’s safety and security.

In providing increasingly safe and secure places, there is potential to support people’s health and wellbeing to deliver greater outcomes for communities.

In this example, a key design factor help with security in the built environment – the properties provide natural surveillance over the public realm.
This provides safety and a sense of security across the community, providing a sense of protection and community between properties, as well as providing for more welcoming public space to support active modes of travel including within open spaces.

“Layouts need to ensure natural surveillance from buildings to public spaces, encourage community interaction, engagement and participation and environmental control” (National Model Design Code).

Cars parked on plot are generally considered to be more secure than those on parking courts, however further consideration could be given here to health by providing secure storage for bikes – allowing for ease of access and use. This would proactively encourage cycle use and promote engagement with active travel.

Do you wish to provide further comments on this illustration? We welcome additional commentary from Healthy Place Making users, so if you have thoughts on additional benefits of this design that haven’t been mentioned above, or suggestions on how the design could be further improved to support health, please let us know.

You can use the enquiry button at the bottom of this page to submit your thoughts. Don’t forget to let us know which page your comments relate to!