The Impact of the Design and Layout of Car Parking on Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

This briefing note is one of a series of themed papers which reports the findings from a collaborative project funded by the Home Office and managed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). This note focuses upon the impact of the design and layout of car parking on crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) within residential housing. The project set out to strengthen and update the evidence base on the impact of residential design on a range of crime types – with a specific focus on housing developments acclaimed for their innovative design and award winning architecture. It should be highlighted that although this briefing note is designed as a summary document, the findings and recommendations are based upon a seven month project conducted by a consortium of universities including experts within the field of designing out crime, statistical modelling, urban design and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The project was overseen by an expert Steering Group who ensured that the research was conducted to the required standards in terms of independence and methodological rigour. The main aim of the research was to establish which features of residential design impact upon crime (either positively or negatively) and whether these design features are those being promoted as good practice within planning policy and guidance. In terms of car parking, this includes questions such as: Are properties with garages safer than those without? Where garages cannot be provided, what is the safest form of parking