Why CPTED is good for business

What is CPTED?

CPTED is short for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. It’s a widely used urban planning approach which aims to reduce crime and improve quality of life in communities.

It’s based around the notion that how a community is designed, built, maintained and managed can directly influence personal behaviour and affect its safety and vitality. 

What is the International CPTED Standard (ISO 22341:2021)

The first international CPTED standard is ISO 22341, Security and resilience – Protective security – Guidelines for crime prevention through environmental design.

The standard provides guidelines for establishing the basic elements, strategies and processes for preventing and reducing crime – and the fear of crime – at a new or existing built environment.

It covers various types of built environments, such as residential areas, commercial areas and community outdoor spaces. It includes the process of crime risk assessment and the use of certified security hardware.

What are the benefits of CPTED?

Housing estates, homes, buildings and public spaces, designed following the CPTED principles improve planning outcomes, increase financial returns and triple bottom line benefits to developers, planners, owners, users and society.

When new estates, public spaces or business feel safer and have lower rates of crime, they generate more revenue and attract more people. They are also more sustainable and provide a higher quality of life for residents.

Why should ISO 22341:2021 be used?

As Dr Hyeonho Park, Project Leader of the ISO committee of experts that developed the standard, said: “When well-planned and wisely implemented, CPTED improves community safety and industrial security in a cost-effective manner”.

How does it benefit urban planners and architects?

By adopting ISO 22341:2021, urban planners and architects are following international best practice in CPTED. It also simplifies fulfilling any CPTED aspects of planning development applications. 

Will it cost more?

Will it cost more?

No, implementing CPTED won’t cost more – if anything there will be a payoff for the developer.

ISO 22341:2021 regards cost-effectiveness and return on investment as important. For any specific project, it can be used to identify:

• Which CPTED strategies should be implemented
• How much to be funded
• Which elements can be postponed or ignored