For many in the built environment, Martyn’s Law still feels like something on the horizon, but with the government now setting out statutory guidance, it’s becoming clearer how the legislation will eventually shape how public spaces are designed, managed and protected.

But the reality is this: the projects being designed today are the projects that will need to comply tomorrow.

That means specifiers, landscape architects, engineers and contractors should already be thinking about how security measures are integrated into schemes – not as an afterthought, but as part of the design conversation from the very beginning.

Because when security is introduced too late in a project, it almost always becomes more expensive, more disruptive and more visually intrusive.

Security design shouldn’t be retrofitted

One of the biggest misconceptions around Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) is that it sits separately from placemaking and public realm design.

In reality, the most successful schemes are the ones where security has been considered early enough that it becomes almost invisible.

That might mean integrating protective measures into seating, planters, bollards or street furniture. It might mean understanding vehicle approaches and pedestrian flows at concept stage, before layouts are fixed and budgets are locked down. But when design and engineering teams collaborate early, you create spaces that feel open, welcoming and usable – while still delivering the levels of protection required.

When you don’t, you often end up trying to retrofit visible security infrastructure into spaces that were never designed to accommodate it.

Martyn’s Law will change expectations

The introduction of Martyn’s Law is going to raise awareness and accountability across the industry.

Clients, local authorities and operators will increasingly need to demonstrate they have considered risk and implemented proportionate protective measures. That doesn’t just affect security consultants, it affects everyone involved in shaping public space.

And with that comes greater scrutiny around specification, compliance and accreditation.

It’s no longer enough to simply install a product that looks secure. Specifiers need confidence that systems have been properly tested, accredited and engineered for the environments they are being used in.  That’s why early engagement with manufacturers and design specialists matters so much.

In reality, good security design balances safety and experience

Public spaces still need to feel like public spaces.  People want cities and destinations that are attractive, accessible and easy to move through – not environments dominated by overt barriers and defensive infrastructure.  The challenge for the industry is balancing safety with usability and aesthetics.

We’ve seen a major evolution in HVM over the last decade. Security products are no longer limited to traditional bollards or obvious perimeter protection. Today, protective street furniture can form part of the wider design language of a project, integrating seamlessly into landscapes and urban environments.

The goal should always be to create protection that people don’t immediately recognise as protection.  That’s where thoughtful design and engineering become critical.

The best HVM projects are collaborative from day one.  When architects, landscape designers, engineers, security stakeholders and manufacturers work together early, projects move more smoothly. Risks can be identified sooner. Compliance becomes easier to manage. And solutions can be developed that work both technically and visually.  It also prevents costly redesign later in the process.

Too often, security considerations arrive after planning, after layouts have been signed off, or when installation constraints already exist. By that stage, options become limited.  On the other hand, early engagement creates flexibility. It gives project teams the opportunity to integrate protection naturally into the scheme, rather than forcing it in later.

Designing for the future

Martyn’s Law is not simply about compliance. It’s about creating safer environments for the people who use them every day.  As an industry, we have an opportunity to rethink how security is approached within public realm design – making it more integrated, more intelligent and less intrusive.

That starts by treating security design as part of the wider placemaking conversation, not something separate from it.  Because the best secure spaces are the ones where safety has been designed in from the start – thoughtfully, seamlessly and without compromise.

Written By

Paul Haggerty

Paul Haggerty is Marshalls’ Protective Street Furniture Specialist, responsible for designing and delivering Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) and security-focused street furniture solutions across the UK and internationally.

Read Paul's full profile here.