Faulty design ‘can lead to crime’

Homes with parking at the back, secluded paths and “leaky” cul-de-sacs which have pedestrian access between them should all be avoided to reduce crime and disputes between neighbours, research has found.

The poor design elements can lead to an increase in crime, antisocial behaviour and disputes, the study by Design Council Cabe found.

The review of modern urban housing developments also found that relying on a gate as the only security was “not a panacea for good design”.