25 Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)

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1 Volume 2: Assessment of Environmental Effects Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) Overview The purpose of this Chapter is to provide a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment of the Project s design and in doing so consider its potential impacts on the safety, perceptions of safety, criminal and antisocial behaviour activity in the Project Area. The CPTED assessment is based on criteria developed from best practice guidance from the Ministry of Justice, WCC and the New Zealand Transport Agency. It represents the outcome of an iterative Project shaping exercise in which CPTED factors have been integral to the evolution of the now proposed Project design. The assessment concludes that the Project design will result in a significant improvement in the environmental quality and sense of risk associated with the Project Area. Proposed pedestrian routes will be clear, well lit, logical and uncluttered. Pedestrians will be offered route options which will enable them to avoid other users, if desired. Care has also been taken to reduce tagging opportunities and to improve key existing problem areas. The Northern Gateway Building proposed within the Basin Reserve will provide CPTED benefits. The alternatives design options will also provide these benefits. Recommendations are made in relation to the selection of materials, plants and furniture so that the anticipated CPTED benefits are enduring. It is also recommended that the construction process be managed so that during this period sufficient safety is maintained and that opportunities for anti-social and criminal behaviours are reduced Introduction This Chapter summarises the findings of Technical Report 11: Assessment of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) in Volume 3 of these documents. The CPTED assessment considers the quality of the public spaces that will be created by the Project, including the interface of those public spaces with adjoining private properties, and the appropriateness of the spaces and their design from a crime and personal safety perspective. The focus of the assessment is on not inadvertently creating CPTED conditions worse than exist today including crimes against people using or moving through the Project Area, or on nuisance crime (vandalism or graffiti) on public property. It does not address crime against private property,

2 Volume 2: Assessment of Environmental Effects 413 located off the public domain, nor does it address traffic safety elements of the Project. The CPTED assessment is based on criteria developed from best practice guidance contained in Ministry of Justice, WCC and New Zealand Transport Agency documents Existing CPTED environment The Project Area currently experiences criminal offending and public property damage at the lower end of the scale relative to other areas of Wellington. It is also not perceived to be a high crime area. This is evidenced in the feedback received by the NZTA during its community engagement programme, in the level of graffiti recorded by the WCC and its graffiti contractor, and in crime statistics. Crime statistics show that between March 2011 and March 2012 there were 20 reported incidents in the public domain of the Project Area. These predominantly involved common assault, street disorder and wilful damage and tended to occur in the late evening and night from Thursday to Saturday. Based on this trend, and anecdotal evidence from the Police regarding unreported alcohol related disorder, it is considered likely that many of the incidents are alcohol related and are associated with the movement of pedestrians through the Project Area to and from the Courtney Place entertainment precinct. The main pedestrian movement through the Project Area is between the Cambridge/Kent Terraces area and the lower end of Adelaide Road. During the day, pedestrians making this trip are able to use the Basin Reserve as a thoroughfare. However, this is closed off between 9.00 pm and 6.00 am, leaving the paths around the Basin Reserve as options for pedestrians. Other current pedestrian features relevant to the design of the Project include: the movement of junior school students north/south through the Dufferin/Paterson intersection and the Tory/Tasman intersection; approximately 170 people crossing Paterson Street per day; strong desire lines around the Kent Terrace / Ellice Street corner (Bogart s Corner); and movement of students from the schools to lower Adelaide Road. Based on the assessment of the current environment, the following Baseline Safety Map has been prepared. Figure 25.1 shows the features and Project Area concerns that are summarised in Table 25-1.

3 Volume 2: Assessment of Environmental Effects B 8 6 Figure 25-1 Baseline Safety Map (note area delineated represents area assessed from a safety perspective and is not the Project Area)

4 Volume 2: Assessment of Environmental Effects 415 Table 25-1 Summary of existing features and concerns from Figure 25-1 Ref. Area Comment 2 Cambridge/Kent Terrace traffic island Marginal risk area part of pedestrian route through Project Area, provides limited sight lines for pedestrians and the pathway does not align with the entrance to the Basin Reserve. 3 Corner of Kent Terrace and Ellice Street Recent removal of buildings and creation of a simple park have created clear sightlines for users. Open, sweeping corner. 4 Buckle Street / Cambridge Terrace corner Open sweeping corner. 5 Dufferin / Paterson corner Open sweeping corner. 6 Western side of Adelaide Road Active edge, providing natural surveillance. Currently rare in the Project Area. 7 West and north Sussex Street Natural surveillance from apartments. Currently rare in the Project Area. 8 Belfast / Rugby Street Pocket of intensive tagging just outside of the Project Area. B Entrance to the Basin Reserve Moderate risks for safety and security issues on the approach and entrance to the Basin Reserve due to the entrance not being visible on the pedestrian approach and the route is neither direct nor legible Overall it is considered that the existing lighting in the area is of a high standard, with relative uniformity due to the close-spacing of road lights. The footpaths in the Project Area are considered to be clear, uncluttered and legible, proving excellent sight lines in advance of travel, with the exception being at the entrance to the Basin Reserve.

5 Volume 2: Assessment of Environmental Effects Assessment of operational CPTED effects The following CPTED assessment of the Project is broken into seven areas. The assessment represents the outcome of an iterative Project shaping exercise in which CPTED factors have been integral to the evolution of the Project design. A key consideration in the assessment is whether the completed Project would at least maintain current levels of safety and perceptions of safety, and would not provide greater opportunity for criminal or anti-social behaviour Area 1 Crèche to Cambridge Terrace/Buckle Street Overall, it is considered that the risk of crime and fear of crime will be reduced in Area 1 because of the design features of the Project. Three key elements are notable in this regard. First, the sides of the western bridge abutment will be sloped and planted to effectively eliminate tagging opportunities. The planting, along with the availability of route choice, clear sightlines, lighting and the reduction in the proposed number of columns will also ensure the quality of the immediate environment is high and that it appears legible and less cluttered to pedestrians. Second, the area of pathways, low amenity planting, wetland and rain gardens which will run down from the crèche to Cambridge Terrace offers route options for pedestrians, provides clear sightlines, will be well lit and does not provide sheltered congregation points. Third, the under-bridge portion of this area will be treated with wetlands and rain gardens and, again, will be well lit. These elements will serve to discourage occupancy of the area (a particular concern expressed by the community in feedback on the Project), and ensure that the space has high amenity. These features are expected to further promote appropriate behaviour and feelings of safety Area 2 Kent Terrace to Ellice Street A key element in this area is the redevelopment of the traffic island at the southern end Cambridge/Kent Terraces. This was identified as a site of marginal risk in the assessment of the existing environment. As part of the Project, it will be improved and will seem significantly safer to users. This benefit will result from the removal of the existing shrubs which obscure pedestrian sight lines. Also the provision of wide pathways either side of the bridge column will provide pedestrians with route choices, should they wish to keep some distance from other users of the traffic island. It is noted that the under-bridge treatment included in Area 2 will be continued through this area and will offer the same benefits.

6 Volume 2: Assessment of Environmental Effects Area 3 Building under the bridge The building under the bridge proposed for the corner of Kent Terrace and Ellice Street will be set back from the roadway and will be curved. As a result it will enable excellent sight lines and offer a sense of openness. In addition the building will add light to the area and an active edge. These factors will create a sense of vitality even when the building is closed and improve the amenity of the area. By enhancing the overall quality of the environment, the building will create expectations about appropriate behaviour and therefore add to the sense of safety for users Area 4 Dufferin, Ellice and Paterson Streets A key element in this area is the pathway connecting Ellice Street to Dufferin Street, and crossing Paterson Street. This pathway will provide for pedestrian movements to and from the schools in the area, as identified in the traffic survey reported on in Technical Report 4: Assessment of Traffic and Transportation Effects in Volume 3 of these documents. The pathway itself will provide clear sightlines and suitable lighting, and will therefore be safe and feel safe for users. In determining the nature of the crossing of Paterson Street, underpass options were considered. Ultimately it has been concluded that from a CPTED perspective an underpass in this location would not be prudent. This conclusion has been reached due to: the potential to create hidden spaces that would provide the opportunity for antisocial behaviour; the vulnerability of users; the safety perceptions of users; and, the physical constraints associated with the location of the bridge abutments. As a result an at-grade crossing has been identified as the preferred option from a CPTED perspective. Other elements of this area include the continuation of the at-grade treatments included in Areas 2 and 3 and the treatment of the eastern abutment in the same manner as the western abutment. Further, it is proposed that the walls adjoining St Joseph s Church and its car park will be greened to also reduce opportunities for tagging Area 5 Dufferin and Ruby Streets Limited changes are proposed to the pedestrian layout of this area. However, lighting improvements and the proposed landscaping changes will enhance the general environmental quality and produce benefits in terms of safety and feelings of safety.

7 Volume 2: Assessment of Environmental Effects Area 6 the bridge walkway and cycleway The proposed pedestrian walkway and cycleway has low safety and security risks in relation to CPTED. The pathway itself will provide clear sightlines, suitable lighting, absence of entrapment points, alternate pathways and exit points and the degree of perceived natural supervision provided from passing motorists. It will therefore be safe and feel safe for users Area 7 - Basin Reserve Northern Gateway Building and Entrances Proposed changes to the Basin Reserve are complementary to and enhance CPTED objectives. The clear identification and articulation of entrances along strong pedestrian and cycle links help form a cohesive and integrated environment. At ground level, the outer entry to the proposed new northern gateway building is extended flush with the street to avoid antisocial behaviour. The gates are also flush and there is likely to be under-soffit lighting. The landscaping to the immediate east of the entry gates will require careful open treatment so as not to create a secluded outdoor room between the building and the fence. From the CPTED point of view the northern gateway building is believed to have no adverse effects, and to have similar positive CPTED benefits as the proposed building on Bogart s Corner by virtue of edge activation, improved quality of structures at the street edge, natural supervision and spill lighting. The relocation of the CS Dempster Gate to the southern entrance does not raise any CPTED concerns On-going maintenance of the CPTED benefits It is important that the selection of Project materials, planting and street furniture is made with consideration to their ongoing performance and ability to be maintained. In this regard it is recommended that: materials and finishes are selected to maintain a good standard of appearance over time and to allow graffiti to be easily removed; rubbish bins are easily accessible for users and maintenance staff; vegetation is selected to avoid plants that may grow to obscure sight lines and create concealment spots; and lighting is selected and located to perform the safety and security functions on an ongoing basis. This should include spacing fittings so that if one fails the impact on light levels is not significant while its replacement is organised. These factors have been integrated into the draft conditions relating to the Landscape Management Plan and lighting.

8 Volume 2: Assessment of Environmental Effects Assessment of CPTED effects during construction Construction activities will disrupt existing pathways through the Project Area, may at time restrict route choice and will certainly have a temporary negative impact on the overall environmental quality of the area. These factors are likely to have implications in terms of the perception of safety within the Project Area. With this risk in mind, to maintain sufficient levels of safety and the perception of safety during construction it is proposed that: sufficient suitable pedestrian routes will be maintained throughout the Project Area to maintain pedestrian safety and feelings of safety; the construction site will be secured, as far as practicable, to protect the safety of users of the area; and, light levels will be maintained to an appropriate standard. These factors have been integrated into the draft conditions relating to the CTMP and the Temporary Transport Management Plans (TTMP) in Volume 4 of this report Mitigation of CPTED effects Project design has been undertaken in an integrated manner, in which CPTED effects have been considered from the outset and their mitigation considered central to overall positive outcome of the Project. In this regard, core elements of the Project design are directly relevant to mitigation of potential CPTED effects. These design elements include: a general, significant improvement in the actual and perceived quality of the immediate urban environment tending to minimise if not eliminate the sense of risk for users and encourage safety through better occupancy the provision of route choices for pedestrians; clear sightlines and quality lighting; landscaping which reduces opportunities for tagging and improves the overall quality of the pedestrian environment; and enhancing the condition of the street edge, in particular through the introduction of the building under the bridge and the northern gateway building to the Basin Reserve.

9 Volume 2: Assessment of Environmental Effects 420 Adverse CPTED effects during construction will be mitigated by ensuring that a CPTED review is integrated into the finalisation of the CTMP and in the development of TTMPs Summary The Project design will result in a significant improvement in the actual and perceived environmental quality and sense of risk in the area. In this regard, attention has been given in the design to ensure that pedestrian routes are clear, well lit, logical and uncluttered, that entrapment spots are avoided and that route options are provided for pedestrians. Care has also been taken to ensure that opportunities for tagging are reduced. Key existing problem areas will be addressed and significantly improved by the Project, and it is expected that criminal offences within the area will be no worse and quite probably reduced as result of the proposed works. Overall, no significant residual safety and crime risks remain following the design process, including matters associated with the Basin Reserve mitigation. Finally, it is recognised that to ensure that the CPTED benefits of the Project are maintained ongoing consideration of CPTED factors is needed during detailed design. It is proposed that a condition be imposed on the designation which requires detailed design plans to be reviewed by an appropriately qualified and experienced CPTED practitioners to ensure the structure remains as proposed in the application.