Revitalising a Town Centre: Enhancing Perceptions of Safety

Client: Local Authority (North of England)
Date: July 2025

The Challenge

A post-industrial town centre in northern England was experiencing a decline in civic pride and visitor numbers. Residents reported concerns about anti-social behaviour, vandalism, and the general condition of the environment. While recorded crime levels were relatively low, perceptions of insecurity were high, affecting both local business confidence and community wellbeing.

The Approach

We were commissioned to explore the underlying causes of these negative perceptions and identify actions to improve safety, restore confidence, and strengthen civic pride.

The project combined:

Community engagement through surveys and interviews to understand local perceptions and priorities.
Environmental audit using the principles of Signal Crimes and Broken Windows theory to assess the physical and psychological impact of the built environment.
Review of partnership structures to understand how community safety, enforcement, and regeneration were being coordinated.
Assessment of community capacity, exploring how local assets, events, and volunteer groups could contribute to long-term renewal.

The Findings

The study found that a combination of physical neglect, fragmented enforcement, and limited social infrastructure were undermining public confidence. Key issues included:

Poor-quality public spaces sending “signals” of neglect and insecurity.
Dated retail architecture that felt defensive and unwelcoming.
Limited youth provision and evening activities, reinforcing negative perceptions of safety.
Strong community goodwill and active volunteer groups that lacked formal support or coordination.

The Recommendations

The report proposed a joined-up approach to improving both perceived and actual safety, including:

Investment in the public realm through lighting, planting, public art, and improved sightlines.
Targeted foot patrols by local wardens to provide visibility and reassurance.
Reinvigorated youth provision, including the repair of recreational spaces and co-designed activities for young people.
A positive communications campaign to promote civic pride and counter negative narratives.
Support for community leadership, enabling residents and local businesses to take an active role in shaping their town centre.

The Impact

The findings have informed the client’s wider approach to place-based community safety and regeneration and supported environmental changes to increase safety and perceptions of safety.

The study demonstrated how improving perceptions of safety depends not only on enforcement but also on environment, design, and empowerment, helping the town centre to become more welcoming, confident, and economically resilient.