Arena’s Pennington Lodge has been awarded “Secured by Design” status by the Chief Inspector of Merseyside Police.

“Secured by Design” is a police-led initiative that is based on decades of research that showed that the architecture and maintenance of a building has a significant impact on crime rates. By incorporating ideas key to “Secured by Design” such as Defensible Space (which works on the same basis as people needing ‘personal space’ to feel comfortable), good external lighting and comprehensive security measures, Pennington Lodge achieves a safe, secure environment.

Arena works with architects and the local community to minimise the impact of crime on all of our housing, but crime is even more important at Pennington Lodge. This is because many of the residents that stay at Pennington come from difficult circumstances and are therefore extremely vulnerable. By working hard to make residents feel safe and secure, Arena can provide them with some of the stability they might have lacked and with foundations to begin again.

The Chief Inspector of Merseyside Police was not only impressed with the design of Pennington Lodge but also with the facilities offered that range from play areas to legal, housing, drug and health advice.

Much has been written in recent Government reports about how housing associations must not just construct houses but work to provide a holistic approach to regeneration. Arena, as shown by the facilities at Pennington Lodge and the new “Secured by Design” status, is providing this holistic approach already.