Planning guidelines for improving environmental safety in single family detached dwelling areas

Abstract

This study does not attempt to explain the social, political, judicial nor eco­nomic forces at play in criminal behav­iour: its objective is far more circum­scribed in that it attempts to examine burglary as a phenomenon in spatial terms and attempts to relate burglary patterns to locations, forms of urban environment, specific physical layout configurations and distribution charac­teristics. Based on an analysis of the physical characteristics of an area including location, topography, adjacent land uses and access routes certain design guidelines with respect to both loca­tional considerations and site configu­ration, are suggested. As clearly indicated in the study, with respect to the high incidence of bur­glary vis-a-vis the proximity of public and private open space, amenity and privacy are gained at the expense of safety and defensibility. Whilst the study is primarily explorato­ry in nature and is limited to Stellenbosch as a case study, it is con­tended that the findings, principles and guidelines which emerge have a wider application and serve to focus attention on design criteria which may promote safety in single family residential areas.