The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) has presented a joint paper to the Department for Communities (DfC) following a meeting in February with Minister Gordon Lyons.

The discussion covered various issues impacting architecture in Northern Ireland, including the application of the Secured by Design (SBD) scheme.

Secured by Design is a UK police initiative that offers guidance on construction and development projects to incorporate design strategies aimed at minimising crime. During the meeting, RSUA voiced concerns regarding the requirement for Housing Associations to obtain SBD approval as a prerequisite for securing DfC grant funding. The RSUA highlighted that this process effectively grants SBD the authority to veto social housing designs.

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A key point of contention raised by RSUA is that police officers, who lack formal architectural training, review architects' plans and propose alterations based on their interpretation of SBD principles.

Minister Lyons acknowledged the validity of these concerns and welcomed further information on the matter.

Subsequently, RSUA collaborated with the Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland (CIH), the Construction Employers Federation (CEF), and the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) to produce a concise paper for the DfC. This joint submission advocates for a more collaborative and balanced approach to addressing the challenges arising from the current implementation of SBD principles in social housing developments.

The full paper as presented to the Minister can be accessed here .