SAFETY, IN CONTEXT
Reassurance begins
with good information.
Borough figures give context. The right security specification comes from assessing the individual entrance, the wider home and how it is used.
1,263recorded burglaries in 2025
Residential and non-residential combined
48%of recorded burglaries were residential
Rounded share reported by the council
−16.6%change in burglary from 2024 to 2025
A fall in recorded offences
Source: RBKC Community Safety Plan 2026, June 2026 final draft, reporting calendar-year 2025. These are borough-wide recorded offences, not the likelihood of burglary at a particular home or a ranking of streets. [13]
Think beyond the door leaf.
Frame, locks, hinges, glazing and installation need to work as a system. Discuss any insurer requirements and ask what evidence supports the proposed configuration. [15]
Include the rest of the home.
Consider garden doors and accessible windows alongside the principal entrance. A period frontage and a contemporary glazed extension need a coordinated brief. [15] [16]
Make daily life part of the brief.
Plan convenient access for residents, safe escape and appropriate shared-building controls. A security specification must suit the people using the entrance every day.
A few useful questions.
Can a security door suit a listed home?
Possibly, but replacement is not the automatic starting point. Establish the significance of the existing door and whether sensitive upgrades are feasible. Any replacement design and performance requirements must be considered alongside the necessary heritage approvals. [12]
Does every home in a conservation area need the same permission?
No. Listing, Article 4 directions and the nature of the work all matter. Check the exact address with RBKC and your adviser before committing to a design; a neighbouring property’s consent does not settle your own position. [11] [12]
What changes if the door serves a flat?
Clarify whether it is a flat entrance door or the communal building entrance. Involve the freeholder or managing agent and establish the relevant fire, smoke, escape and access requirements. Security performance does not, by itself, establish fire performance.
Can the front door and garden glazing be considered together?
Yes. Include the main entrance, garden doors and accessible glazing in the initial brief. We can discuss bespoke security doors alongside bifolds, pivot doors and sliding doors and architectural glazing, subject to the property and specification.
Do you cover North Kensington as well as Chelsea?
Yes. Enquiries are welcome across Kensington & Chelsea, including Golborne, North Kensington, Notting Hill, Holland Park, Kensington, South Kensington, Earl’s Court, Brompton and Chelsea.
What should I send with my enquiry?
Start with your postcode, the type of entrance, approximate dimensions, photographs you are comfortable sharing, and any known listing or conservation restrictions. Include your architect’s drawings and insurer’s written requirements if available.
