Police have praised the design of a new housing development in Lincoln, saying it will help to reduce the risk of crime and improve peace of mind for local residents.
Hermit Mews has achieved Secured by Design (SBD) Gold standard, in recognition of the high-quality security measures it incorporates.
Secured by Design is a police-backed initiative that promotes security and crime prevention in new developments. The Gold standard is its highest level, requiring stringent adherence to security principles.
Hermit Mews was designed and built by Lindum Group on behalf of City of Lincoln Council. A former garage site in Lincoln’s Hermit Street was transformed, with the existing garage block and garages adjacent to the flats demolished.
Lindum Design Manager, Mark King, said his team had worked in conjunction with Lincolnshire Police to achieve the standard:
“Achieving Secured by Design Gold standard at Hermit Street required us to build homes that were not only aesthetically pleasing but also prioritised the safety and well-being of the community.
“Examples of this include a new secure fence line to the rear of Portland Street which closes off public access through to alleyways and creates dedicated private access routes for residents.
“We also reorganised the CCTV to provide more comprehensive coverage and installed motion-sensitive lighting, which reduces the kind of dimly lit areas which might attract anti-social behaviour.”
Other factors which helped achieve the Gold standard were:
- Demolition of existing garages, decreasing risk of anti-social behaviour
- Transitional public gardens infill alcoves to improve visibility
- Opening up the courtyards on the apartment blocks with open rail fencing to provide visibility and better quality of light to the gardens
- The windows and doors are designed to PAS 24 standards
The Hermit Mews development is a significant step forward in the City of Lincoln Council’s commitment to addressing the housing needs of its residents. As the council continues its work to deliver affordable homes, this project serves as a model for future developments.
The project was jointly funded by the City of Lincoln Council and Homes England’s Affordable Homes 2021-2026 Programme. It delivered 11 new council homes as part of the council’s strategic 30-year housing plan to provide affordable housing.
The Hermit Mews development consists of:
- Five two-bedroom homes
- Six three-bedroom homes
All homes were made available for bidding through the council’s Lincs Homefinder system and allocated through a local lettings plan. Tenants have now moved into these new homes, adding much-needed affordable family housing to the city’s housing stock.
In addition to the new homes, the development includes 31 parking bays and eight garages, which were available to let from mid to late October. These spaces were also allocated via the council’s local lettings plan.
As part of the development, local schools and community groups were invited to participate in a competition to name the new street. The winning name, ‘Hermit Mews,’ pays homage to the original Hermit Street and the legacy of Hermit the Horse, a renowned racehorse that won the 1867 Epsom Derby. Hermit’s owner, Henry Chaplin, lived in Lincoln and owned land in the area, further cementing the historical connection to the city.
The new homes have been built to high environmental standards and include modern infrastructure such as new drainage, lighting, and utilities.
The project has also generated significant social value, including community engagement and educational opportunities. For example, 100% of the supply chain spend was with micro, small, and medium businesses, role play equipment was donated to a local nursery for their outdoor area, pupils from two local schools were supported with transport to the construction week at Lincolnshire Showground and a wooden plaque was designed by a local social enterprise for the community garden on the corner of Hermit Street and Portland Street.
Additionally, a technical trainee from Lindum gained valuable hands-on experience as part of their ongoing studies.
Cllr Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing at City of Lincoln Council, said: “The completion of the Hermit Mews development is an exciting step forward for our housing ambitions in Lincoln. This project not only provides much-needed affordable homes for local families but also reflects our commitment to sustainable, high-quality housing.
“The involvement of local schools and community groups in naming the development adds a special connection to the area’s rich history, and we are proud to see these homes become part of the local community.”
